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WORK 

OF THE LATE 

Dn Benjamin Franklin / 

CONSISTING OF HIS 

LIFE, 

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF* 

Together wifn 

ESSAYS, 

HUMOROUS, MORAL, and LITERAR^ 

Chiefly in the manner of the 

SPECTATOR. 

To which js added, not in any other Edition, 

An Examination, before the Britifh Houfe of 

Lords, refpe£ling the 

STAMP-ACT. 



TWO VOLUMES IN ONE. 



PHILADELPHIA : 

Printed and Published by Wm. W. WOODWARD 
No. 17, Cbesnut Street* 
1801. 



PREFACE. 



JL HE volume which is here prefent- 
cdto the Public, confifts of two parts : the 
Life of Dr. Franklin ; and a colle&ion of Mis- 
cellaneous E flays, the work of that author, 
who was born at Bofton in New-England, Ja- 
nuary 6th, 1706, died at Philadelphia, April 
17th, 1790, 

It is already known to many, that Dr. Fran- 
lin amufed himfelf, towards the clofe of his 
life, with writing memoirs of his own hiftory. 
Thefe memoirs were brought down to the 
year 1757. Together with fome other manu- 
scripts, they were leftbehind him at his death y 
and were confidered as conftituting a part of 
his pofthumous property. It is a little extra- 
ordinary that, under thefe circumftances, in- 
teresting as they are, from the celebrity of the 
chara6ler of which they treat, and from the 
critical fituation of the prefent times, they 
fhould fo long have been withheld from the 
public. A tranfiation of them appeared in 
France near two years r.go, coming down to 
the year 1731. There can be no fumcient rea- 
fon, that what has thus been fubmitted to the 
perufal of Europe, Ihould not be made accef- 
fible to thofe to whom Dr. Franklin's lan- 
guage is native. The firft part of the hiftory 
of his life is tranflatedfrom that publication. 

The 



4 PREFACE. 

The ftyle of thefe memoirs is uncommonly 
.pleafmg. The ftory is told with the moll un- 
referved fmcerity, and without any falfe co- 
louring or ornament. We fee, in every page, 
that the author examined hi& fubjecl with the 
eye of a mafter, and related no incidents, the 
fprings and origin of which he did not per- 
fectly underftand. It is this that gives fuch 
exquifite and uncommon perfpicuity to the 
detail, and delight in the review. The tranf- 
lator has endeavoured, as he went along, to 
conceive the probable manner in which Dr. 
Frai^din expreffed his ideas in his Englifh 
manufcript, and he hopes to be forgiven if this 
enquiry fhall occafionally have fubje6led him 
to the charge of a ftyle in any i efpect bald or 
low ; to imitate the admirable limplicity of 
the author, is no eafy talk. 

The F.ffays^ which are now, for the firft 
t^me, brought together from various refources, 
will be found to be more mifcellaneous than 
any of Dr. Franklin's that have formerly been 
collected, and will therefore be more general- 
ly amufing. Dr. Franklin tells us, in his Life 
that he was an affiduous imitator of Addifon ; 
and from fome of thefe papers it will be ad- 
mitted that he was not an unhappy one. The 
public will be amufed with following a great 
philofopher in his relaxations, and obferving 
in what refpedls philofophy tends to elucidate 
and improve the moll common fubjeels. The 
editor has purpofely avoided fuch papers as,, 
by their fclentifical nature, were lefs adapted 
for general perufal. — Thefe he may probably 
hereafter publifh in a volume by themfelves. 

He fubjoins a letter from the late celebrated 
and amiable Dr. Price, to a gentleman in 
Philadelphia, upon the fubjeft of Dr. Franks 
lin ? s memoirs of his own life. 



PREFACE. S 

Hackney y J une 19, 1790. 

" DEAR SIR, 

" I am hardly able to tell you how kindly I 
take the letters with which you favour me. 
Your laft, containing an account of the death 
of our excellent friend, Dr. Franklin, and the 
circumftances attending it, deferves my parti- 
cular gratitude. The account which he has 
left of his life will {how, in a ftriking example 
how a man, by talents, induftry, and integrity,, 
may rife from obfcurity to the firft eminence 
and confequence in the world ; but it brings, 
his hiftory no lower than the year 1757, and 
I underftand that fince he fent over the copy,, 
which I have read, he has been able to make 
no additions to it. It is with a melancholy 
regret I think of his death ; but to death we are 
all bound by the irreverfible order of nature, 
and in looking forward to it, there is comfort 
in being able to refieft — that we have not lived 
in vain, and that all the ufeful and virtuous 
fhall meet in a better country beyond the grave. 

" Dr. Franklin, in the laft letter I received 
from him, after mentioning his age and infir- 
mities, obferves, that it has been kindly order- 
ed by the Author of nature, that as we draw 
nearer the concluiion of life, we are furnifhed ♦ 
with more helps to wean us from it, among 
which one of the ftrongeft is the lofs of dear 
friends. I was delighted with the account you 
gave in your letter of the honour fhewri to his. 
memory at Philadelphia, and by Congrefs ; and 
yeflerday I received a high additional pleafure 
by being informed that the National Affembly 
of France had determined to go in mourning 
for him. What a glorious fcene is opened 



6 PREFACE. 

there 1 The annals of the world furnifli no par- 
rallel to it. One of the honours of our de- 
parted friend is, that he has contributed much 
to it. 

lam with great refpeft, 

Your obliged and very humble fervant* 

RICHARD PRICE." 



CONTENTS. 



M 



£Page 
IFE of Dr. Franklin, as written by 

himself - - - 9 

Continuation of his life, by Dr. Stubcr 91 

Extradls from his Will - • 138 

Eulogium on Benjamin Franklin - 149 

On Early Marriages - - 175 
On the Death of his Brother, Mr. John 

Franklin - - -177 

To the late Dr. Mather of Boston 178 
The Whistle, a true Story ; written to 

his Nephexv - - 181 

A Petition of the Left Hand - 183 

The Handsome and Deformed Leg 184 
Conversation of a Company of Ephemerae 
with the Soliloquy of one advanced 

in Age ~ - - 187 
31orals of Chess - - -189 

The Art of procuring pleasant Dreams 1 93 

Advice to a young Tradesman - 199 
Necessary Hints to those that would be 

rich - . 201 
The Way to make Money plenty in every 

Maris Pocket - 202 

An (economical Project - - 204 
On Modern innovations in the English 

Language* and in Printing - 290 
An Account of the highest Court of Judica- 
ture in Pennsylvania, viz. The Court 

of the Press - ,, 213 

Paper ; a Poem - . - 219 

On the Art ofSxvimming - • 221 



8 CONTENTS. 

Page 
Nexv Mode of Bathing - -, .224 

Observations on the gene raily prevailing 

DoSlrines of Life and Death - 226 

Precautions to be taken by those who are 

about to undertake a Sea Voyage 228 

On luxury ) Idleness , and Industry - 233 
On the Slave Trade - - 238 

Observations on War ~ - - .242 

On the Impress of Seamen - - 244 

On the Criminal Laxvs, and the Pratlice 

of Privateering - - 248 

Remarks concerning the Savages of North 

America - - ~ 255 

To M. Dubourg, concerning the Dissen- 

tions between England and America 263 

.A Comparison of the Condu6l of the ancient 
jfezvs, and of the Antifederalists of the 
United States of America - 264 

The Internal State of America ; being a 
true Description of the Interest and 
Policy of that vast .Continent - 269 

Information to those who would remove 

to America - - 275 

Pinal Speech of Dr. Franklin in the late 

Federal Convention - - 284 

Sketch of an English School - - 287 
Examination of Dr. Franklin before the 
British House of Lords on the Stamp 
A£l. - - - - 293 



LIFE 

DOCTOR BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, 



MY DEAR SON, 



X HAVE amufed myfelf with collecting fome little 
anecdotes of my family. You may remember the en- 
quiries I made, when you were with me in England, 
among fuch of my relations as were then living ; and 
the journey I undertook for that purpofe. To be ac- 
quainted with the particulars of my parentage and life, 
many of which are unknown to you, I flatter myfelf, 
will afford the fame pleafure to you as to me. I fhall 
relate them upon paper: it will be an agreeable em- 
ployment of a week's uninterrupted leifure, which I 
promife myfelf during my prefent retirement in the 
country. There are alfo other motives which induce 
me to the undertaking. From the bolbm of poverty 
and obfeurity, in which I drew my full breath and 
fpent my earlieft years, I have raifed myfelf to a ftate 
of opulence and to fome degree of celebrity in the 
world. A conftant good fortune has attended me 
through every period of life to my prefent advanced 
A age i 



IO THE LIFE OF 

age ; and my defendants may be defirous of learning 
what were the means of which I made ufe, and which, 
thanks to the affifting hand of Providence, have proved 
fo eminently fuccefsful. They may alfo, (hould they 
ever be placed in a fimilnr lunation, derive Ibme ad- 
vantage from my narrative. 

When ifcrfedi, as 1 frequently do, upon the felici- 
ty I have^pfcyed, I fometimes lay to myfelf, that, 
were the offer made me, 1 would engage to run again, 
from beginning to end, the fame career of life. All 
I would afk would be the privilege of an author, to 
correct in a fecond edition, certain errors of the firft. 
I could wifh, likewife, if it were in my power, to 
change fome trivial incidents and events for others more 
favourable. Were this however denied me, ftill would 
I not decline the offer. But lince a repetition of life 
cannot take place, there is nothing which, in my opi- 
nion, fo nearly reiembles it, as to call to mind all its 
circumftances, and, to render their remembrance more 
durable, commit them to writing. By thus employing 
myfelf, I (hall yield to the inclination, fo natural to 
old men, to talk of themfelves and their exploits, and 
may freely follow my bent, without being tirefome to 
thofe who, from refpect to my age, might think them- 
felves obliged to liiien to me ; as they will be at liber- 
ty to read me or not as they pleafe. In fine — and I 
may well avow it, fince nobody would believe me were 
J to deny it — I Ihali perhaps, by this employment, 
gratify my vanity. Scarcely indeed have I ever heard 
or read the introductory phrafe, rt I may say without 
vanity," but fome finking and characterise inftance 
of vanity has immediately followed. The generality 
of men hate vanity in others, however Wrongly they 
may be tinctured with it themfelves ; for myfelf, I pay 
obeifance to it wherever I meet with it, perfuaded that 
it is advantageous, as well to the individual whom 
it governs, as to thole who are within the fphereofits 
influence. Of confequence, it would in many cafes, 
not he wholly a^furd, that a man (hould count his va- 
nity among the other fweets of life, and give thanks 
• evidence for the bleffing. 

.And 



D 8. FRANKLIN. II 

And here let me with all humility acknowledge, that 
to divine Providence I am indebted for the felicity I 
have hitherto enjoyed. It is that power alone which 
has furnifhcd me with the means I have employed, and 
that has crowned them with fuccefs. My faith in this 
refpecl leads me to hope, though I cannot count upon 
it, that the Divine goodnefswill ftill be^fxercifed to^ 
wards me, either "by prolonging the duration of my 
happinefs to the clofe of life, or by giving me forti- 
tude to iupport any melancholy reverfe, which may 
happen to me, as to fo many others. My future for- 
tune is unknown but to him in whofe hand is our def- 
tiny, and who can make our very afflictions iublervi- 
ent to our benefit. 

One of my uncles, defirous like myfelf, of collecting 
anecdotes of our family, gave me fome notes, from 
which I have derived many particulars refpedting our 
anceflors. From thefe I learn, that they had lived in 
the fame village (Eaton in Northamptonshire) upon a 
freehold of about th'nty acres, for the fpace at leait of 
three hundred years. How long they had refided there 
prior to that period, my uncle had been unable to dif- 
cover ; probably ever fince the inflitution of furnames, 
when they took the appellation of Franklin, which h?id 
formerly been the name of a particular order of indi- 
viduals.* 

• This 



* As a proof that Franklin was ancient ly the common 
name of an order of rank in England, see Judge For- 
tescue, De laudibus legum Anglice, written about the 
year 141 2, in which is the following passage, to shew 
that good juries might easily be formed in any part of 
England : 

" Regio etiam ilia, ita respersa refertaque est pof- 
" fefToribus terrarum et agrorum, quod in ea, villulatam 
< c parva reperiri on poterit> in qua non est miles, ar- 
" miger, vel pater familias, qualis ibidem franklin 
*< vulgaritur nuncupatur, magnis ditatus possessonibus, 
* mc non libcrc, tenenies at alii valecti plurimi, suis 



12 THE LIFE OP 

This petty eftate would not have fufficed for their 
fubfiftence, had they not added the trade of blackfmith, 
which was perpetuated in the family down to my uncle's 
time, the eldeft fon having been uniformly brought up 
to this employment : a cuftom which both he and my 
father obierved with i efpedl to their eldeft fons. 

In the refearches I made at Eaton, I found no ac- 
count of their births, marriages arid deaths, earlier 
than the year 1555 ; the parifh regifter not extend- 
ing farther back than that period. This regifter in- 
formed me, that I was the youngeft fon of the youngeft 
branch of the family, counting five generations. My 
grandfather, Thomas, who was born in 1598, living 
at Eaton till he was too old to continue his trade, when 
he retired to Banbury in Oxfoidfnire, where his fon 
John, who was a dyer, refided, and with whom my 
father was apprenticed. He died, and was buried 

there t 



i% patrimonii s sujpcientes, ad faciendum jurat am^ in 
" forma pranotata." 

" Moreover, t be same country is so filled and replenish-' 
u e d with landed menne, thai therein so small a thorpe 
" cannot be found wherein dwelleth not a knight, an es- 
a quire, or such a householder as is there commonly caU 
" led a franklin, enriched with great possessions ; and 
u also other freeholders and many yeomen, able for their 
" livelihoods to make a jury in form aforementioned*' 1 

Old Translation. 

Chaucer too calls his country gentlemen a franklin, 
and after describing bis good housekeeping, thus charac- 
terises him : 

This worthy franklin bore a purse of silk, 
Fix'd to his girdle, white as morning milk. 
Knight to the shire, first justice to th* assize, 
To help the poor the doubtful to advise. 
In all employments* generous, just heprov\U 
Renown" d for courtesy, by all bela'd* 



B R. PR A N K L-I N. 13 

there: we law his monument in 1758. His elded fou 
lived in the family houfe at Eaton, which he bequeath- 
ed, with the land belonging to it, to his only daugh- 
ter; who, in concert with her hufband, Mr. Fitter of 
Wellingborough, afterwards fold it to Mr. Elled, the 
prefent proprietor. 

My grandfathjr had four furviving fons, Thomas, 
John, Benjamin, and Jofias. I mall give you inch 
particulars of them as my memory will furnith, not 
having my papers here, in which you will find a more 
minute account, if they a;e not loll during my ab- 
fence. 

Thomas had learned the trade of a blackfrnith under 
his father ; but poiTeffing a good natural underiianding, 
he improved it by ftudy, at the felicitation of a gen- 
tleman by the name of Palmer, who was at that time 
the principal inhabitant cf the village, and who en- 
couraged in like manner all my uncles to improve their 
minds. Thomas thus rendered himfelf competent to 
the functions of a country attorney ; foon became an 
eflential perfonage in the affairs of the village ; and 
was one of the chief movers of every public enterpi ize, 
as well relative to the country as the town of Nqrtbfj 
ampton. A variety of remarkable incidents were told 
us of him at Eaton. After enjoying the eiteem a.,d 
patronage of Lord Halifax, he died January 6, 1702, 
precifely four years before I was born. The recited 
that was made us of his life and character, by iome 
aged peribns of the village, ftruck you, I remembe,, 
as extraordinary, from its analogy to what you knew 
of myfelf. " Had he died," laid you, Ct juft four 
years later, one might have fuppoied a transmigration 
of fouls." 

John, to the bed of my belief, was brought up to 
the trade of a wool-dyer. 

Benjamin ferved his apprenticefhip in London to a 
filk-dyer. He was an indubious man : I remember 
him well ; for, while I was a child, he joined my ra- 
ther at Boflon, and lived for lbme years in the houfe 
with us. A particular affedion had always iubfifted 

between 
A 2 



14 T H E L I F E 1 

between my father and him ; and I was his godfon, 
He arrived to a great age. He left behind him two 
quarto volumes of poems in manufcnipt, confiding of 
little fugitive pieces addrefTed to the friends. He had 
invented a (hurt-hand, which he taught me, but having 
never made ufe of it, I have now forgotten it. He 
v/as a man of piety, and a conftant * attendant on the 
bed preachers, whofe fermons he took a pleafure in 
writing down according to the expeditory method he 
had devifed. Many volumes were thus collected by 
him. He was alfo extremely fond of politics, too 
much fo perhaps for his fituation. I lately found in 
London a collection which he had made of all the prin- 
cipal pamphlets relative to public affairs, from the year 
.1641 to 17 1 7. Many volumes are wanting, as ap- 
pears by the feries of numbers ; but their Hill remain 
eight in folio, and twenty four in quarto and octavo. 
The collection had fallen into the hands of a fecond- 
hand bookfeller, who, knowing me by having fold me 
fome books, brought it to me. My imcle, it feems r 
had left it behind him on his departure for America, 
about fifty years ago. I found various notes of his 
writing lit the margins. His grandibn, Samuel is now 
living at Bofton. 

Our humble family had early embraced the Reformati- 
on. They remained faithfully attached during the reign 
cf Queen Ma.y, when they were in danger of being mo- 
letted on account of their zeal againft popery. They 
had an Englith Bible, and, to conceal it the more fe- 
curely, they conceived the profpect of fattening it, open, 
with pack-threads acrois the leaves, on the infide of the 
lid of a elofe-ftool. When my great-grandfather wifh- 
ed to read to his family, he reverfed the lid of the 
clofe-ftool Mpcn his knees, and pa fled the leaves from 
one fide to the other, which were held down on each 
by the pack-thread. One of the children was ttationed 
at the door, to give notice if he law the proctor (an 
cf&ccr of the ipi ritual court) make his appearance : in 
that cafe, the lid was reftored to its place, with the 

Bible 



DR. FRANKLIN. 1 5 

Bible concealed under it as before. I had this anec- 
dote from my uncle Benjamin. 

The whole family preserved its attachments to the 
Church of England till towards the dole of the reign 
of Charles II. when certain minifters, who had been 
ejected as non-conformifts, having held conventicles in 
Northamptonshire, they were joined by Benjamin and 
Jofias, who adhered to them ever after. The re it of 
the family continued in the epifcopal Church. 

My £ather, Jofias, married early in life. He went 
with his wife and three children, to New England about 
the year 1682. conventicles being at that time prohi- 
bited by law, and frequently difturbed, fome conlidera- 
ble perlbns of his acquaintance determined to go to 
America, where they hoped to enjoy the free exercifc 
of their religion, and my father was prevailed on to ac- 
company them. 

My father had alfo by the fame wife four children 
born in America, and ten others by a fecond wife, 
making in all feventeen. I remember to have feen 
thirteen ieated together at his table, who all arrived to 
years of matuiity, and were married. I was the laft of 
the ions, and the youngeft child, excepting two daugh> 
ters. I was born at Bofton in New England* My 
mother the fecond wife, was Abiah Folger, daughter of 
Peter Folger, one of the firft colonifts of New England, 
of whom Cotton Mather makes honourable mention, in 
his Ecclefiaftical Hiftory of that province, as u a pi&us 
w and learned Englishman," if I rightly recollect his ex- 
prefiions. I have been told of his having written a varie- 
ty of little pieces ; but there appears to be only one in 
print, which I met with many years ago. It was publiihed 
in the year 1675, an ^ * 3 m * arr) diar vcrfe, agreeable to 
the tafle of the times and the country. The author ad- 
dreffes himfelf to the governors for the time being, 
fpeaks for liberty of conlcience, and in favour of the 
anabaptills, quakers, and other fectaries, who had fuf- 
fered periecution. To this persecution he attributes the 
wars with the natives* and other calamities which af- 
flicted the country, regarding them as the judgments of 

God 



1 6 THE LIFE OF 

God in punifhment of fo odious an offence, and he ex- 
horts the government to the repeal of laws fo contrary 
to charity. The poem appeared to be written with a 
manly fieedom and a pleafing Simplicity. I recollect 
the fix concluding lines, though 1 have forgotten the 
order of words of the two flrii ; the fenfe of which was, 
that his cenfures were dictated by benevolence, and 
that, of confequence, he wifhed to be known as the au- 
thor ; becauie, faid he, I hate from my \ay foul difli- 
mulation : 

From Sherburne*; where I dwell, 

I therefore put my name, 
Your friend who means you well, 

Peter Folger. 

My brothers were all put apprentices to different 
trades. With refpect to myfelf, I was ierit,at the age 
of eight years to a grammar ichocl. My father def- 
tined me for the church, and already regarded me as 
the chaplain of the family. 'I he piomptitude with 
which from my infancy I had learned to read, for I do 
not remember to have been ever without this acquire- 
ment, and the encouragements of his friends, whe al- 
lured him that 1 lhould one day certainly become a man 
of letters, confirmed him in this defign. My uncle 
Be-njamin, approved alio of the fcheme, and promifedto 
give me all his volumes of fermons, written, as I have 
faid, in the Ihort hand of his invention, if I would take 
the pains to learn it. 

I remained however fcarcely a year at grammar 
fchool, although, in this fhort interval, I had rilen from 
the middle to the head of my clals, from thence to the 
clafs immediately above,- and was to pais at the end of 
the year, to the one next in order. But my father, 
burthened with a numerous family, found that he was 
incapable, without fubjecling himielf to difficulties, of 

providing 



Town in the Island of Nantucket 



DR, PRANKIIN. 17 

providing for the expencc of a collegiate education ; 
and confidering befides, as I heard him fay to his friends, 
that perlbns fo educated were often poorly provided for,, 
he renounced his firft intentions, took me from the 
grammar fchool, and fent me to a fchool for writing 
and arithmetic, kept by a Mr. George Brownwel, who 
was a fkilful rnafter, and fucceeded very well in hispro- 
feflion by employing gentle means only, and fuch as 
were calculated to encourage his fcholars. Under him 
I foon acquired an excellent hand ; but 1 failed in 
arithmetic, and made therein no fort of progrefs. 

At ten years of age, I was called home to affiil my 
fatflfer in his occupation, which was that of foap-boiler 
and tallow-chandler ; a bufinefs to which he had ferved 
no apprenticeftiip, but which he embraced on his arri- 
val in New England, becaufe he found his own, that of 
a dyer, in too little re qneft to enable him to maintain his 
family. I was accordingly employed in cutting the 
wicks, rilling the moulds, taking care of the ihop, car- 
rying meflfages, Sec. 

This bufinefs dilpleafed me, and I felt a ftrong in- 
clination for a tea life : but my father fet his face 
againft it. The vicinity of the water, however, gave 
me frequent opportunities of venturing myfelf both up- 
on and within it, and I foon acquired the art of fwim- 
ining, and of managing a boat. — When embarked with 
other children, the helm was commonly deputed to me, 
particularly on difficult occavions; and, in every other 
project, 1 was almolt always the leader of the troop, 
whom I Ibmetimes involved in embarrafTments. I Chali 
give an inftance of this, which demonllrates an early 
difpofiticn of mind for public enterprifes, though the 
one in queftion was not conducted by juftice. 

The mill pond was term "mated on one lide by a 
marfn, upon the borders of which we were accuftomed 
to take our fiand, at high ♦iter, to angle for frnallfiftu 
By dint of walking, we had converted the place into a 
perfect quagmire. My propoial was to erect a wharf 
that fhould afford us firm footing ; and I pointed out 
to my companions a large heap of ftones, intended for 

the 



l8 THE LIFE OF 

the building a new houfe near the marfii, and \T>hich 
were well adapted for our purpofe. Accordingly, when 
the workmen retired in the evening, I affembled a 
number of my playfellows, and by labouring diligent- 
ly, like ants, fometimes four of us uniting our ftrength 
to carry a fingie ftone, we removed them all, and con- 
frru£ledour little quay. The workmen were furprifed 
the next morning at not finding their Hones, which had 
been conveyed to cur wharf. Enquiries were made 
reflecting the authors of this conveyance ; we were 
difcovered ; complaints were exhibited againil us ; ma- 
ny of us underwent correction on the part of ourpa- 
rents ; and though I ilrenuouily defended theutili^cf 
the work, my father at length convinced me that no- 
thing which was not flricily honed could be uieful. 

It will not, perhaps, be uninterefting to you to know 
what fort of a man my father was. He had an ex- 
cellent confiitution, was of a middle fize, but well made 
and firong, and extremely active in whatever he under- 
took. He deHgned with a degree of reatnefs, and 
knew a little of mufic. His voice was fonorous and 
agreeable ; fo that when he fung a pfalm or hymn with 
accompaniment of his violin, as was his frequent prac- 
tice in an evening when the labours of the day were 
finii'hed, it was truly delightful to hear him. He was 
verfed alio in mechanics, and could upon ocean* on, .ufe 
the tools of a variety of trades. But his greateft ex- 
cellence was a found underftanding and folid judg- 
ment in matters of prudence, both in public and pri- 
vate life. In the former indeed he never engaged, 
becaufe his numerous family and the mediocrity of his 
fortune, kept him unremittingly employed in the duties 
of his profeflion. But I very well remember that the 
leading men of the place ufed frequently to come and 
afk his advice refpecling affairs of the town, or of the 
church to which he belor^fc, and that they paid much 
deference to his opinion. Individuals were alfo in the 
habit of confulting him in their private affairs, and he 
was often chofeu arbiter between contending parties.. 



DR. FRANKLIN. 19 

He was fond of having at his table, as often as 
poffible, fome friends or well informed neighbours ca- 
pable of rational converfatioii, and he was always care- 
ful to introduce ufeful or ingenious topics of difcourfe, 
which might tend to form the minds of his children. 
By this means he early attracted our attention to what 
wiis juit, prudent, and beneficial in the conduct of life. 
He never talked of the meats which appeared upon ;he 
table, never difcuffed whether they were well or ill dref- 
fed, of a good or bad flavour, high-feafoned or other- 
wife, preferable or inferior to this or that dim, of a 
fimilar kind. Thus accuftomed, from my infancy, to 
thegitnioft inattention as to thofe objects, I have al- 
ways been perfectly regardlefs of what kind of food 
was before me; and I pay fo little attention to it even 
now, that it would be a hard matter for me- -to- recol- 
lect, a few hours after I had dined, of what my dinner 
had confifted. When travelling, I have particularly 
experienced the advantage of this habit ; for it has of- 
ten happened to me to be in company with perfons, 
who, having a more delicate, bccaufe a more exercifed 
tafle have fuffered in many cafes considerable inconve- 
nience, while, as to myfelf, I have had nothing to 
defire. 

My mother was likewife pone (Ted of an excellent 
conftitution. She fuckled all her ten children and I 
never heard either her or my father complain of any- 
other diforder than that of which they died : my father 
at the age of eighty-feven, and my mother at eighty- 
five. They are buried together at Bofton, where, a 
few years ago, I placed a marble over their grave, with 
this infcription : 

" HERE LIE 

" Josias Franklin and Abiah his wife : They 
" lived together with reciprocal affection for fifty- nine 
" years ; and without private fortune, without lucra- 
" tive employment, by afliduous labour and honeftinduf- 
u try, decently fnpported a numerous family, and edu- 
" cated with luccefs, thirteen children, and {even grand- 
*" children. Let this example, reader, encourage you 

" diligently 



20 THE LIFE OF 

u diligently to difcharge the duties of thy calling, and 
" to rely on the fupport of Divine Providence. 

" He was pious and prudent, 
" She difcreet and virtuous. 

<* Their youngeft fon, from a fentiment of filial duty, 
&i confecrates this ftone 

" To their memory," 



I perceive, by my rambling digreffions, that tF am 
growing old. But we do not drefs for a private com- 
pany as for a formal ball. This deferves perhaps the 
name of negligence. 

To return, I thus continued employed in my father's 
trade for the fpace of two years ; that is to fay, till I 
arrived at twelve years of age. About this time my 
brother John, who had ferved his apprenticefhip in 
London, having quitted my father, and being married 
and fettled in bufinefs on his own account at Rhode 
Ifland, I was defined, to all appearance, to fupply his 
place, and be a candle-maker all my life : but my dif- 
like of this occupation continuing, my father was ap- 
prehenfive, that, if a more agreeable one were not of- 
fered me, I might play the truant and efcape to fea ; 
as, to his extreme mortification, my brother Jofias had 
done. He therefore took me fometiraes to fee mafons, 
coopers, braziers, joiners, and other mechanics, em- 
ployed at their work ; in order to difcover the bent of 
my inclination, and fix it if he could upon fome occu- 
pation that might retain me on (bore. I have fince, 
in confequence of thefe vifits, derived no fmali plea- 
fure from feeing Ikilful jKorkmen handle their tools ; 
and it has proved of connaerable benefit, to have ac- 
quired thereby iufficient knowledge to be able to make 
little things for myfelf, when I have had no mechanic 

at 



DR. FRANKLIN. 21 

at hand, and to conflruct fmall machines for my ex- 
periments, while the idea I have conceived has been 
frefh and flrongly imprefTed on my imagination. 

My father at length decided that I fheuld be a cut- 
ler, and I was placed for fome days upon trial with my 
coufin Samuel, fon of my uncle Benjamin, who had 
learned this trade in London, and had eilabliihed himfelf 
at Bofton. But the premium he required for my 
apprentice lhip difpleaiing my father, I was recalled 
home. 

From my earlieft years I had been paflionately fond 
of reading, and I laid out in books all the little mo- 
ney I could procure. I was particularly pleafed with 
accounts of voyages. My firfl acquifition was Buuyan's 
collection in fmall feparate volumes. Thefe I after- 
wards fold in order to buy an hiftorical collection by 
It. Burton, which confifted of fmall cheap volumes, 
amounting in all to about forty or fifty. My father's 
little library was principally made up of books of prac- 
tical and polemical theology. I read the greateft part 
of them. I have fince often regretted, that at a time 
when I had fo great a third for knowledge, more eligi- 
ble books had not fallen into my hands, as it was then 
a point decided that I fhould not be educated for the 
church. There was alfo among my father's books 
Plutarch's Lives, in which I read continually, and I 
fttll regard as advantageoufly employed the time I de- 
voted to them. I found befides a work of De Foe, 
entitled, an EfTay, on Projects, from which, perhaps, 
I derived impreliions that have fince influenced fome 
of the principal events of my life. 

My inclination for books at laft determined my fa- 
ther to make me a printer, though he had already a 
fon in that profeffion. My brother had returned from 
England in 1717 with a prefs and types, in order to 
eitablilh a printing-houfe at Bofton. This bufinefs 
pleafed me much better than that of my father, though 
I had (till a predilection for the fea. To prevent the 
effects which might refult from this inclination, my 
father was impatient to fee me engaged with my bro- 
** ther. 

B 



.2-2 THE LIFE F 

ther. I held back for fome time ; at length however 
1 fuffered rnyfelf to be perfuaded, and figned my in- 
dentures, being then only twelve years of age. It was 
agreed that I fhould ferve as apprentice to the age of 
twenty one, and fhould receive journeyman's wages 
onJy during the laft year. 

In a very fhort time I made great proficiency in this 
bufmefs, and became very ferviceable to my brother. 
I had now an opportunity of. procuring better books. 
The acquaintance I neceffarily formed with bookfel- 
lers* apprentices., enable me to borrow a volume now 
and then, which I never failed to return punctually and 
without injury. How often has it happened to me to 
pafs the greater part of the night in reading by my 
bed-fide, when the book had been lent me in the even- 
ing, and was to be returned the next morning, left it 
might be miffed or wanted. 

At length, Mr. Matthew Adams, an ingenious 
tradefman, who had a handfome collection of books, 
.and who frequented our printing-houfe, took notice of 
me. He invited me to fee his library, and had the 
goodnefs to lend me any books I was defirous of read- 
ing. I then took a ftrange fancy for poetry, and com- 
pofed feveral little pieces. My brother, thinking he 
might find his account in it, encouraged me and en- 
gaged me to write two ballads. One, called the Light- 
houfe Tragedy, contained an account of the fhipwreck 
of captain Worthilake and his two daughters ; the 
other was a failors fong on the capture of the noted 
pirate called Teach, or Black-beard. They were 
-wretched veries in point of flyie, mere blind-men's 
ditties. When printed he difpatched me about the 
town to fell them, the fir ft had a prodigious run, be- 
cauie the event was recent, and had made a great 
noiie. 

My vanity was flattered by this fuccefs ; but my 
father checked my exultation, by ridiculing my produc- 
tions, and telling me that verifiers were always poor. 
I thus efcaped the misfortune of being, probably a very 
wretched poet. ..But as-the faculty of writing prole 

has 



DR; F It A N K LIN. 23 

has been of great fervice to me in the conrfe of my life, 
and principally contributed to my advancement, I mall 
relate by what means fituated as I was, I acquired 
the fmall fkill I may poffefs in that way. 

There was in the town another young man, a great 
lover of books, of the name of John Collins, with 
whom I was intimately connected. We frequently 
engaged in difpute, awd were indeed fo fond of argu- 
mentation, that nothing was fo agreeable to us as a 
war of words. This contentious temper, I would ob- 
ferve by the bye, is in danger of becoming a very bad 
habit, and frequently renders a man's company infup- 
portable, as being no otherwife capable of indulgence 
than by indifcriminate contradiction. Independently 
of the acrimony and difcord it introduces into conver- 
fation, it is often productive of diflike, and even ha- 
tred, between perfons to whom friendlhip is indifpenfi- 
bly neceiTary. I acquired it by reading, while I lived 
with my father, books of religious controverfy. I have 
fince remarked, that men of ienie feldom fall into this 
error; lawyers, fellows of universities, and perfons ff 
every profeflion educated at Edinburgh, excepted. 

Collins and I fell one day into an argument relative 
to the education of women ; namely, whether it were 
proper to inltrucl them in the fciences, and whether 
they were competent to the ftudy. Collins fupported 
the negative, and affirmed that the tafk was beyond 
their capacity. I maintained the oppcfite opinion, a 
1 It tie perhaps for the pleafure of difputing. He was 
naturally more eloquent than I; words flowed copious- 
ly from his lips ; and frequently I thought mylelf van- 
quished, more by his volubility than by the force of his 
arguments. We ieparated without coming to an 
agreement upon this point ; and as we were net to fee 
each other again forfonre time, I committed my thoughts 
to paper, made a fair copy, and fent it to him. He an- 
fwered, and 1 replied. Three or four letters had been 
written by each, when my father chanced to light up- 
on my papers and read them. Without entering into 
merits of the caufe, he embraced the opportunity 

of 



24 THE LITE OF 

of fpeaking to me upon my manner of writing. He 
obferved that though I had the advantage of my ad- 
verfary in correct fpelling and pointing which I owed 
to my occupation, I was greatly his inferior in ele- 
gance of exprefllon, in arrangement and perfpicuity. 
Of this he convinced me by ieveral examples. I felt 
the juftice of his remarks, became more attentive to 
language, andrefolved to make every effort to improve 
my ftyle. Amidft thefe refolves an odd volume of the 
Spectator fell into my hands. This was a publication 
I had never feen. I bought the volume, and read it 
again and again. I was enchanted with it, thought 
the ftyle excellent, and wifhed it were in my power to 
imitate it; with this view, I {elected fome of the pa- 
pers, made fhort luminaries of the fenfe of each period, 
and put them for a few days afide. I then, without 
looking at the book, endeavoured to reltore the ef- 
fays to their true form, and to exprefseach thought at 
length, as it was in the original, employing the molt 
appropriate words that occurred to my mind. I after- 
wards compared my Spectator with the original ; I 
perceived fome faults, which I corrected: but I found 
that I wanted a fund of words, if I may fo exprefs 
myfelf, and a facility of recollecting and employing 
them, which I thought I fliould by that time have ac- 
quired, had I continued to make veries. The conti- 
nual need of words of the fame meaning, but of dif- 
ferent lengths for the meafure, or of different founds 
for the rhyme would have obi ged me to feek for a va- 
riety of fynonymes, and have rendered me matter of 
them. From this belief, I took fome of the tales of 
the Spectator, and turned them into veife ; and after a 
time, when I had fufficiently forgotten them, I again 
converted them into profe. 

Sometimes alfo I mingled all my fummaries toge- 
ther ; and a few weeks after, endeavoured to arrange 
them in the bed order, before I attempted to form the 
periods and complete the effays. This I did with a 
view of acquiring method in the arrangement of my 
thoughts. On comparing afterwards my performance 

with 



DR. FRANKLIK. 2 J 

with the original, many faults were apparent, which 
I corrected ; but i had fometimes the fatisfaction to 
think, that, in certain particulars of little impoitance, 
I had been fortunate enough to improve the order of 
thought or the ftyle ; and this encouraged me to hope 
that 1 mould fucceed, in time, in writing the Englifli 
language, which was one of the greatest objects of my 
ambition. 

• The time which I devoted to thefe exercifes, and 
to reading, w 7 as the evening after my day's labour was 
finifhed, the morning before it began, and Sundays 
when I could efcape attending divine fervice. While 
I lived with my father, he had infilled on my punctual 
attendance on public worfhip, and I ft ill indeed consi- 
dered it as a duty, but a duty which I thought 1 had 
ho time to pructHe. 

When about fixteen years of age, a work of Tfybn? 
fell into my hands, in which he recommends vegetable 
diet. I determined to obferve it. My brother, being" 
a bachelor, did not keep houfe, but boarded with his 
apprentices in a neighbouring family. My refining 
to eat animal food was found inconvenient, and I was 
o5feen fcolded for my Angularity. I attended to the 
mode in which Tryon prepared ibme of his difhes ? par 
ticularly how to boil potatoes and rice, and make hafty 
puddings. I then faid to my brother, that if he would 
allow me per week half what he paid for my board, I 
would undertake to maintain myfelf. The offer was 
instantly embraced, and I foon found that of what he 
gave me I was able to fave half. This was a new fund for 
the purchafe of books ; and other advantages refulted 
to me from the plan. When my brother and his work- 
men left the printing-houfe to go to dinner, I remain- 
ed behind ; and difpatching my frugal meal, which 
frequently confilled of a bifcuit only, or a ilice of bread 
and a bunch of raidns, or a bun from the paftry cook's, 
•with a glafs of water, I had the reft of the time, till 
their return, for ftudy ; and my progrefs therein was 
proportioned to that clearnefs of ideas and quicknefs 
of conception, which are the fruit of temperance in 
eating and drinking, 

B2 



26 THE LIFE 07 

It was about this period that, having one day been 
put to the blufh for my ignorance in the art of calcula- 
tion, which I had twice failed to learn while at fchool, 
I took Cocker's Treatife of Arithmetic, and went 
through it by myfelf with the utmofteafe. I alio read 
a book of Navigation by Seller and Sturmy, and made 
myfelf matter of the little geometry it contains, but I 
never proceeded far in this fcience. Nearly at the 
fame time I read Locke on the Human Underfta rid- 
ing, and the Art of Thinking by Meffrs. du Port- 
Royal. 

While labouring to form and improve my flyle, I 
met with an Englifh Grammar, which I believe was 
Greenwood's having at the end of it two little effays on 
rhetoric and logic. In the latter I found a model of 
difputation after the manner of Socrates. Shortly af- 
ter I procured Xenophon's work, entitled Memorable 
Things of Socrates, in which are various examples of 
the fame method. Charmed to a degree of enthufiafni 
with this mode of difputing, I adopted it, and re- 
nouncing blunt contradiction, and direct and pofitive 
argument, 1 affumed the character of a humble quef- 
tioner. The perufal of Shaf fbury and Collins had 
made me a fceptic ; and being previoufly fo as to ma- 
ny doctrines of Chriftianity, I found Socrates's method 
to be both the fafeft for myfelf, as well as the moft em- 
barraffing to tbofe againft whom 1 employed it. It 
ibon afforded me lingular pleasure ; I incefiantly prac- 
tifed it ; and became very adroit in obtaining, even 
from perlbns of fuperior understanding, conceflions of 
which they did not forefee the confequences. Thus I 
involved them in difficulties from which they were un- 
able to extricate themfelves, and fometimes obtained 
victories, which neither my caufe ncr my arguments 
merited. 

This method I continued to employ for fome years ; 
but I afterwards abandoned it by degrees, retaining 
only the habit of expreffing myfelf with mode ft: diffi- 
dence, and never making ufe, when I advanced any 
proportion which might be controverted, of the words 

certainly 



DR, FRANKLIN. 2J 

certainty, undoubtedly, or any others that might give 
the appearance of being obftinately attached to my opi- 
nion. I rather faid I imagine, I fuppofe, or it appears 
to me, that iuch a thing is fo or fo, for iuch and fuch 
reafons ; or it is Co, if I am not miftaken. This habit 
has, I think been of considerable advantage to me, 
when I have had occafion to imprefs my opinion on the 
minds of others and perluade them to the adoption of 
the meafures I have fuggefted. And fince the chief 
ends of converfation are, to inform or to be informed, 
to pleafe or to perluade, I could wifh that intelligent 
and well-meaning men would not themfelves diminifh the 
powers they poffels of being ufeful, by a pofitive and 
prefumptuous manner of expreffiag themfelves, which 
fcarcelyever fails to difguft the hearer, and is only cal- 
culated to excite opposition and defeat every purpofe 
for which the faculty of fpeech has been bellowed upon 
man. In (hort, if you wifh to inform, a pofitive and 
dogmatical manner of advancing your opinion may 
provoke contradiction, and prevent your being heard 
with attention. On the other hand, if with a defire 
of being informed, and of benefiting by the knowledge 
of others, you exprefs yourielves as being ilrongly at- i 
tached to your own opinions, modeft and fenlible men., 
who do not love dilputation, will leave you in tranquil 
poffeiiion of your errors. By following fuch a method, 
you can rarely hope to pleafe your auditors, conciliate 
their good-will, or work conviction on thofe whom you 
may be defirous of gaining over to your views. Pope 
judiciouily oblerves, 

Men muft be taught as if you taught them not, 
And things unknown propos'd as things forgot. 

And in the fame poem he afterwards advifes us> 

To fpeak, tho* fure, with feeming diffidence. 

He 



28 THE LIFE OF 

He might have added to thefe lines, one that he has 
coupled elfewhere, in my opinio n, with leis propriety. 
It is thus : 

For want of decency is want of feafe. 

If you afk why I fay with less propriety, I mud give 
you the two lines together : 

Immodeft words admit of no defence, 
For want of decency is want of ienfe. 

Now want of fenfe, when a man has the misfortune to 
be ib circumfianced, it is not a kind ofexcufe for want 
of modelly ? And would not the verfes have been more 
accurate, if they had been constructed thus : 

Immodeil words admit but this defence, 
That want of decency is want of ienic. 

But I leave the decifion of this to better judges than 
myfelf. 

In 1720, or 1721, my brother began to print a new 
public paper. It was the fecond that made its appear- 
ance in America, and was entitled the New England 
Courant. The only one that exifted before was the 
Boston News Letter. Some of his friends, I remem- 
ber, would have diffuaded him from this undertaking, 
as a thing that was not likely to fucceed ; a fingle newf- 
paper being, in their opinion fuflicient for all Ameri- 
ca. At prefent, however, in 1777, there is no lefs 
than twenty-five. But he carried his project into exe- 
cution, and I was employed in diftributing the copies to 
his cuftomers, after having afliiled in compofmg and 
working them off. 

Among his friends he had a number of literary cha- 
racters, who, as an amufement, wrote fhort effays for 
the paper, which gave it reputation and increaied its 
fale. Thofe gentleman came frequently to our houfe. 
I heard the converfation that palled, and the accounts 

they 



DL FRANKLIN. 29 

they gave of the favourable reception of their writings 
with the pubtic. I was tempted to try my hand 
among 1 them ; but, being dill a child as it were, I was 
fearful that my brother might be unwilling to print in 
his paper any performance of which he fhould know 
me to be the author. I therefore contrived to difguife 
my hand, and having written an anonymous piece, I 
placed it at night under the door of the printing-houfe, 
where it was found the next morning. My brothei 
communicated it to his friends, when they came as ufu- 
al to fee him, who read it, commented upon it within 
my hearing, and I had the exquifite pleafure to find 
that it met with their approbation, and that, in the 
various conjectures they made reipecYmg the author, 
no one was mentioned who did not enjoy a high repu- 
tation in the country for talents and genius. I now 
fuppofed myfelf fortunate in my judges, and began to 
fufpecl that they were not fuch excellent writers as I 
had hitherto fuppofed them. Be that as it may, en- 
couraged by this little adventure, I wrote and lent to 
the prefs, in the fame way many other pieces, which 
were equally approved ; keeping the fecret till my flen«* 
der flock of information and knowledge for fuch per- 
formances was pretty completely exhaufted, when I 
made myfelf known. 

My brother, upon his difcovery, began to entertain 
a little more refpect for me; but he ft ill regarded him- 
felf as my matter, and treated me like an apprentice. 
He thought him felf entitled to the fame fer vices from 
me as from any other perfon. On the contrary, I 
conceived that, in many inftanees, he was too rigor- 
ous, and that, on the part ot a brother, 1 had a right 
to expedl greater indulgence. Our difputes were fre- 
quently brought before my father; and either my bro- 
ther was generally in the wrong, or I was the better 
pleader of the two, for judgment was commonly given 
in my favour. But my brother was paflionate, and of- 
ten had recourfe to blows ; a circumftance which I took 
in very ill part. This fevere and tyrannical treatment 
contributed, I believe, to imprint on my mind that 

averfiou 



3D THE LIFE OF 

averfion to arbitrary power, which during my whole 
life I have ever preferved. My apprentice fhip became 
infupportable to me, and I continually fighed for an 
opportunity of (hortening it, which at length unex- 
pectedly offered. 

An article inferted in our paper upon fome political 
fubject which I have now forgotten, gave offence to 
the Affembly. My brother was taken into cuilody, 
cenfured, and ordered into confinement for a month, 
becaufe, as I prefume, he would not di (cover the au- 
thor. 1 was alfo taken up, and examined before the 
council ; but, though I gave them no Satisfaction, they 
contented themfelves with reprimanding, and then dif- 
mifled me ; confideiing me probably bound in quality 
of apprentice, to keep my mailer's fecrets. 

The imprifonment of my brother kindled my re- 
fentment, notwithftanding our private quarrels. Du- 
ring its continuance the management of the paper was 
entrufted tome, and I was bold enough to infertfome 
pafquerades againll the governors ; which highly pleaf- 
ed my brother, while others began to look upon me in. 
an unfavourable point of view, confidering me as a young 
wit inclined to fa tire and lampoon. 

My brother's enlargement was accompanied with 
an arbitrary order from the houfe of affembly, " That 
K J^mes Franklin {hould no longer print the newipa- 
" per entitled the New-England. Courant." In this 
conjuncture, we held a confutation of our friends, at 
the printing-houfe, in order to determine what was 
proper to be done. Some propofed to evade the order 
by changing the title of the paper : but my brother 
fore feeing inconvrniencies that would relult from this 
ilep, thought it better that it (hould in futuie be print- 
ed in the name of Benjamin Franklin ; and to avoid 
the cenfure of the affembly, who might charge him 
with ftill printing the paper himfelf, under the name of 
his apprentice, it was refolved that my old indentures 
fhould be given up to me, with a full and entire dis- 
charge written on the back, in order to be produced 
upon an emergency ; but that, to fecure*t'o my bro- 
ther 



DR, FRANKLIN. 3 1 

ther the benefit of my fervice, I mould Ggn a new 
contract, which fhould be kept fee ret during the re- 
mainder of the term. This was a very (hallow ar- 
rangement. It was, however, carried into immediate 
execution, and the paper continued, in confequence, 
to make its appearance for fome months in my name. 
At length a new difference arifing between my brother 
and me, I ventured to take advantage of my liberty, 
prefuming that he would not dare to produce the new 
contract. It was undoubtedly difhonourable to avail 
myfelf of this circumftance, and I reckon this action 
as one of the firft errors of my life ; but I was little 
capable of eflimating it at its true value, embittered as 
my mind had been by the recollection of the blows I 
had received. Exclufively of his paffionate treatment 
of me, my brother was by no means a man of an ill 
temper, and perhaps my manners had too much of 
impertinence not to afford it a very natural pretext. 

When he knew that it was my determination to 
quit him, he wifhed to prevent my finding employment 
elfewhere. He went to all the printing-houfes in the 
town, and prejudiced the matters againlt. me, who ac- 
cordingly refufed to employ me. The idea then fug- 
gefted itfelf to me of going to New-York, the neareit 
town in which there was a printing-office. Farther 
reflection confirmed me in the defign of leaving .Bof- 
ton, where I had already rendered myfelf an object of 
fufpicion to the governing party. It was probable, 
from the arbitrary proceedings of the aiTembly in the 
affair of my brother, that by remaining I fhould foou 
have been expoied to difficulties, which I had the 
greater reafon to apprehend, as from my indifcreet 
difputes upon the fubject of religion I begun to be re- 
garded by p"ious fouls with horror, either as an apoftate 
or an atheift. I came therefore to a refolution ; but 
my father, in this inftance, fiding with my brother, I 
pre fumed that if I attempted to depart openly, mea- 
fures would be taken to prevent me. My friend Col- 
lins undertook to favour my flight. He agreed for 
my paffage with the capt, of a New- York floop, to 

whom 



32 THE LIfE OF 

whom he reprefented me as a young man of his ac- 
quaintance, who had had an affair with a girl of bad 
character, whole parents wifhed to compel me to mar- 
ry her, and that of confequence I could neither make 
my appearance, nor go off publicly. I fold part of my 
books to procure a fmall fum of money, and went pri- 
vately on board the floop. By favour of a good wind 
I found myfelf in three days at New- York, nearly 
three hundred miles from my home, at the age only 
of feventeen years, without knowing an individual in 
the place, and with very little money in my pocket. 

The inclination I had felt for a feafaring life was 
entirely fubiided, or I fhould now have been able to 
gratify it ; but having another trade, and believing 
myfelf a tolerable workman, I hefitated not to offer my 
fervices to the old Mr. William Bradford, who had 
been the firft printer in Pennfylvania, but had quitted 
that province on account of a quarrel with George 
Keith, the governor. He could not give me employ- 
ment himfelf, having little to do, and already as ma- 
ny perfons as he wanted ; but he told me that his fon, 
printer at Philadelphia, had lately loft his principal 
workman, Aquila Rofe, who was dead, and that if I 
would go thither, he believed he would engage me. 
Philadelphia was an hundred miles farther. I hefitated 
not to embark in a boat in order to repair, by the 
fhorteft: cut of the fea, to Amboy, leaving my trunk 
and effects to come after me by the ufual and more 
tedious conveyance. In eroding the bay we met with 
a fquall, which (nattered to pieces our rotten fails, pre- 
vented us from entering the Kill, and threw us upon 
Long-Ifland. 

During the fquall a drunken Dutchman, who like 
myfelf was a paffenger in the boat, fell into the fea. 
At the moment that he was unking, I feized him by 
the fore-top, faved him, and drew him on board. This 
immerllon fobered him a little, fo that he fell aileep, 
after having taken from his pocket a volume, which he 
requeued me to dry. This volume I found to be my 
old favourite work, Bunyan's Voyages, in Dutch, a 

beautiful 



D R. F R A N K t I N". 33 

beautiful impreffion on fine paper, with copperplate en- 
gravings ; a drefs in which I had never ieen it in its 
original language* I have fince learned that it has 
been tranllated into almoil all the languages of Europe, 
and next to the Bible, I am perfuaded, it is one of the 
books which has had the greateft lpread. Honed John 
is the nrft, that I know of, who has mixed narrative and 
dialogue together ; a mode of writing very engaging 
to the reader, who in the mofl interefting paffages, 
finds himfelf admitted as it were into the company, 
a.nd prefent at the converfation. De Foe has imitated 
it with fuccefs in his Robinfon Crufoe, his Moll Flan- 
ders, and other works ; as alio has Richardfon in his 
Pamelia, See. 

In approaching the ifland we found that we had 
made a part of the coali. where it was not poflible to 
land, on account of the ftrong breakers produced by 
the rocky fhore. We call anchor and veered the cable 
towards the fhore. Some men, who flood upon the 
brink, hallooed to us, while we did the fame on our 
part ; but the wind was lb high, and the waves fo noi- 
fy, that we could neither of us hear each other. There 
were fome canoes upon the bank, and we called out 
to them, and made iigns to prevail on them to come 
and take us up; but either they did notunderftand us, 
or they deemed our requefl: impracticable, and with- 
drew. Night came on, and nothing remained for us 
but to wait quietly the fubfiding of the wind ; till when 
we determined, that is, the pilot and I, to fleep if pof- 
fible. For that purpofe we went below the hatches 
along with the Dutchman, who was drenched with wa- 
ter. The lea broke over the boat, and reached us in 
our retreat, fo that we were prefently as completely- 
drenched as he. 

We had very little repofe during the whole night : 
but the wind abating the next day, we iucceeded in 
reaching Amboy before it was dark, after having paffed 
thirty hours without provifions, and with no other 
drink than a bottle of bad rum, the water upon which 
we rowed being fait. In the evening I went to bed 

with 
G 



34 THE LIFE OF 

with a very violent fever. I had fomewhere read that 
cold water, drank plentifully, was a remedy in fuch 
cafes. I followed the prescription, was in a profufe 
fweat for the greater part of the night, and the fever 
left me. The next day I croffed the river in a ferry- 
boat, and continued my journey on foot. I had fifty 
miles to walk, in order to reach Burlington, where I 
was told I mould find paiTage-boats that would convey 
me to Philadelphia. It rained hard the whole day, fo 
that I was wet to the fkin. Finding myfelf fatigued 
about noon, I Propped at a paltry inn, where I paiTed 
the reft of the day and the whole night, beginning to 
regret that I had quitted my home. I made befides 
fo wretched a figure, that I was fufpefted to be fome 
runaway fervant. This I difcovered by the queftions 
that were afked me ; and I felt that I was every mo- 
ment in danger of being taken up as fuch. The next 
day, however, I continued my journey, and arrived in 
the evening at an inn, eight or ten miles from Burling- 
ton, that was kept by one Dr. Brown. 

This man entered into converfation with me while 
I took fome refiefhment, and perceiving that I had 
read a little, he exprefYed towards me considerable in- 
tereft and friendfhip. Our acquaintance continued dur- 
ing the remainder of his life. I believe him to have 
been what is called an itinerant dodlor ; for there was 
no town in England, or indeed in Europe, of which he 
could not give a particular account. He was neither 
deficient in underftanding nor literature, but he was a 
fad infidel ; and, fome years after, undertook to tra- 
vefty the Bible in burlefque verfe, as Cotton has tra- 
veftied Virgil, He exhibited, by this means, many 
facls in a very ludicrous point of view, which would 
have given umbrage to weak minds, had his work been 
publifhed, which it never was. 

I fpent the night at his houfe, and reached Burling- 
ton the next morning. On my arrival, I had the 
mortification to learn that the ordinary paiTage-boats 
had failed a little before. This was on a Saturday, 
and there would be no other boat till the Tuefday fol- 
lowing. 



DR, FRANKLIN, 35 

lowing. I returned to the houfe of an old woman in 
the town who had ibid me fome gingerbread to eat on 
my paffage, and I afked her advice. She invited me 
to take up my abode with her till an opportunity offer- 
ed for me to embark. Fatigued with having travelled 
io far on foot, I accepted her invitation. When fhe 
underitood that I was a printer, fhe would have per- 
fuaded me to Ray at Burlington, and fet up my trade : 
but (he was little aware cf the capital that would be 
neceflary for fuch a purpofe ! I was treated while at 
her houfe with true hcfpitality. She gave me, with 
the utmoft good-will, a dinner of beef-lleaks, and would 
accept of nothing in return but a pint of ale. 

Here I 1 imagined myfelf to be fixed till the Tuefdsy 
in the enfuing week ; but walking out in the evening 
by the river-fide, I faw a boat with a number of per- 
fous io it approach. It was going to Iphia, 

and the company took me in. As there was no \ 
we could only make way with our oars. About mid- 
night, not perceiving the town, fome of the company 
were of opinion that we muft have pafTed it, and were 
unwilling to row any farther ; the reft not knowing 
where we were, it was refolved that we mould (top. 
We drew towards the fhore, entered a creek, and land- 
ed near fome old palifades, which ferved us for fire- 
wood, it being a cold night in October. Here we 
flayed till day, when one of the company found the 
place in which we were to be Cooper's Greek, a little 
above Philadelphia, which in reality we perceived the 
moment we were out of the Creek. We arrived on 
Sunday about eight or nine o'clock in the morning, 
and landed on Market-ftreet wharf. 

I have entered into the particulars of my voyage, 
and fhall in like manner delcribe my firft entrance in- 
to this city, that you may be able to compare begin- 
nings fo little aufpicious, with the figure I have fince 
made. 

On my arrival at Philadelphia I was in my work- 
ing drefs, my beft clothes being to come by fea. I 
was covered with dirt ; my Dockets were filled with 

fhirts 



36 



THE LIFE OF 



fhirts and (lockings; I was unacquainted with a Tingle 
foul in the place, and I knew not where to feek for a 
lodging. Fatigued with walking, rowing, and having 
palled the night without fleep, I was extremely hun- 
gry, and all my money confided of a Dutch dollar, and 
about a (hilling's worth of coppers whieh I gave to the 
boatmen for my paffage. As I had affifted them in 
rowing, they refufed it at firft ; but I infifted on their 
taking it. A man is fometimes more generous when 
he has little than when he has much money ; proba- 
bly becau-fe in the firft cafe, he is defirous of conceal- 
ing his poverty. 

I \saiked towards the top of the (beet, looking 
eagerly on both (ides, till I came to market-ftreet, 
where I met a child with a loaf of bread. Often had. 
I made my dinner on dry bread. I enquired where 
he had bought it, and went (traight to the baker's (hop 
vhich he pointed out to me. I afked for Tome bif- 
cuits, expecting to find fuch as we had at Bofton ; but 
they made it ieems, none of that fort at Philadelphia. 
I then afked for a three-penny loaf. They made no 
loaves of that price. Finding myfelf ignorant of the 
prices, as well as of the different kinds of bread, I de- 
iired him to let me have three penny-worth of bread 
of fome kind or other. He gave me three large rolls. 
I was furprifed at receiving lb much : I took them 
-ver, and having no room in my pockets, I walk- 
ed on with a roll under each arm, eating the third. 
In this manner I went through Market- (Ireet to Fourth 
Oreet, and paffed the hcuie of Mr. Read, the father 
of my future wife. She was (landing at the door, ob- 
ierved me, and .thought with reafon that I made a ve- 
ry lingular and groteique appearance, 

I then turned the corner, and went through Chef- 
nut-dreet, eating my roll all the way; and having made 
this round, I found myfelf again on Market-ftreet 
wharf, near the boat in which I had arrived. I (tep- 
ped into it to take a draught of the river water ; and 
finding myfelf iatisfied with my ftrft roll, I gave the 
other two to a woman and her child, who had come 

down 



DR. FRANKLIN. $J 

down the river with us in the boat, and was waiting 
to continue her journey. Thus refrefhed, I regained 
the ftreet, which was now full of well dreffed people, 
all going the lame way. I joined them, and was thus 
led to a large Quakers' meeting-houfe near the market 
place. I fat down with the reft, and after looking 
round me for fome time hearing nothing faid, and be- 
ing drowjy from my laft night's labour and want of 
reft, I fell into a found fleep. In this ftate I conti- 
nued till the affembly difperfed, when one of the con- 
gregation had the goodnels to wake me. This was 
confequently the firft houfe I entered, or in which I 
ilept at Philadelphia. 

I began again to walk along the flreet by the river 
fide ; and looking attentively at the face of every one 
I met, I at length pereeived a young quaker whofe 
countenance pleaied me. I acceded him, and begged 
him to inform me where a ftranger might find a lodg- 
ing. We were then near the fign of the Three Ma- 
riners. They receive travellers here, faid he, but it 
is not a houfe that bears a good character ; if you will 
go with me, I will (hew you a better one. He con- 
ducted me to the Crooked Billet in Water-ftreet. 
There I ordered fomething for dinner, and during my 
meal a number of curious queftions were put to me ; 
my youth and appearance exciting the fufpicion of my 
being a runaway. After dinner my drowfinefs re- 
turned, and I threw myfelf upon a bed without taking 
off my clothes, and llept till fix o'clock in the evening, 
when I was called to {upper. I afterwards went to 
bed at a very early hour, and did not awake till the 
next morning. 

As ibon as I got up I put myfelf in as decent a 
trim as I could, and went to the houfe of Andrew 
Bradford the printer. I found his father in the (hop, 
whom I had ieen at New-York. Having travelled on 
horfeback, he had arrived at Philadelphia before me. 
He introduced me to his fon, who received me with 
civility, and gave me fome breakfaft ; but told me he 
had no occafion for a journeyman, having lately pro- 
cured 
C z 



o 



8 THE LIFE OF 



cured one. He added, that there was another printer 
newly fettled in the town, of the name of Keimer, 
who might perhaps employ me; and that in cafe of a 
refufal, I (hould be welcome to lodge at his houfe, and 
he would give me a little work now and then, till fome- 
thing better (hould offer. 

The old man offered to introduce me to the new 
printer. When we were at his houfe ; " Neighbour," 
faid he, " I bring you a young man in the printing 
bufinefs ; perhaps you may have need of his fervices." 

Keimer afked me fome quedions, put a compofing 
flick in my hand to fee how I could work, and then 
faid, that at prefent he had nothing for me to do, but 
that he (hould foon be able to employ me. At the 
fame time taking old Bradford for an inhabitant of the 
town well-difpoied towards him, he communicated his 
project to him, and the proipedl he had of fuccefs. 
Bradford was careful not to difcover that he was the 
father of the other printer ; and from what Keimer had 
faid, that he hoped (hortly to be in polTeflion of the 
greater part of the bufinefs of the town, led him by art- 
ful quedions, and by darting fome difficulties, to dif- 
clofe all his views, what his hopes were founded upon, 
and how he intended to proceed. I was prefent, and 
heard it all. I indantly law that one of the two was 
a cunning old fox, and the other a perfedl novice. 
Bradford left me with Keimer, who was drangely 
furprifed when I informed him who the old man was. 

I found Keimer's printing materials to confid of an 
old damaged prefs, and a fmall cad of worn-out Eng- 
liih letters, with which he >vas himfelf at work upon 
an elogy on Aqudla Rofe, whom 1 have mentioned 
above, an ingenious young man, and of an excellent 
character, highly edeemedin the town, fee retary to the 
affembly, and a very tolerable poet. Keimer alio made 
verfes, but they were indifferent ones. He could not 
be faid to write in verfe, for his method was to take 
andfet the lines as they flowed from his mule ; and as 
he worked without copy, had but one fet of letter cafes, 
and the elogy would probably occupy all his type, it 

was 



D IT. FRANKLI X. 39 

was impoflibk for any one to affifl him. I endeavour- 
ed to pnthisprefs in order, which lie had not yet l 
and of which indeed he underftood nothing : and ha- 
ving prorniled to come and work ofT his elogy as foon. 
as it fhould be ready, I returned to the bouie of Brad- 
ford, who gave me fome trifle to do for the prefent, fot 
which I had my board and lodging. 

In a few days Keimer fent iqv me to print off his 
elogy. He had now procured another let of letter- 
cafes, and had a pamphlet to reprint, upon which he 
fet me to work. 

The two Philadelphia printers appeared dcftitute of 
every qualification neceffary to their profeiFion. Brad- 
ford had not been brought up to it, and was very illi- 
terate. Keimer, though he underflood a little of the 
bufinefs, was merely a compofitor, and wholly incapa- 
ble of working at the prefs. He had one of tfaerFrendl 
prophets, and knew how to imitate their fupernatural 
agitations. At the time of our firft acquaintance he 
profeiTed no particular religion, but a little of all upon 
occafion. He was totally ignorant of the world, and 
a great knave at heart, as 1 had afterwards an oppor- 
tunity of experiencing. 

Keimer could not endure that, working with him, 
I fhould lodge at Bradford's. He had indeed a houfe, 
hut it was uiifurniihed ; fo that he could not take me 
in. He procured me a lodging at Mr. R.ead's, his 
landlord, whom I have already mentioned. My trunk 
and effects being now arrived, I thought of making, 
in the eyes of Mifs Pcead, a more refpectable appear- 
ance than when chance exhibited me to her view, eat- 
ing my roll, and wandering in the ftreets. 

From this period I began to contract acquaintance 
with fuch young people of the town as were fond of 
reading, and fpent my evenings with them agreeably, 
while at the fame time I gained money by my indoflry, 
and, thanks to my frugality, lived contented. I thus 
forgot Bolton as much as poffible, and wilhed every one- 
to be ignorant of the place of my refidence, except my 
friend Collins, to whom I wrote, and who kept my 
fee ret. 

An 



40 THE LIFE OP 

An incident however arrived, which fefit me home 
much foonerthan I hadpropofed. I had a brother-in- 
law, of the name of Robert Holmes, mailer of a trad- 
ing* iloop from Bolton to Delaware, Being at New- 
caitle, forty miles below Philadelphia, he heard of me, 
and wrote to inform me of the chagrin which my fud- 
den departure from Bolton had occasioned my parents, 
and of the affection which they ftill entertained for me, 
alluring me that, if I would return, every thing ihould 
headjuiled to my fatisfaclion ; and he was very preil- 
ing in his entreaties. I anfwered his letter, thanked 
him for his advice, and explained the reaibns which 
had induced me to quit Bolton, with fuch force and 
clearnefs, that he was convinced I had been lefs to 
blame than he had imagined. 

Sir William Keith, governor of the province^, was 
at Newcaille at the time. Captain Holmes, being by 
chance in his company when he received my letter^ 
took cccafion to fpeak of me, and (hewed it to him. 
The governor read it, and appeared furpriied when he 
learned my age. He thought me, he laid, a young 
man of very promifing talents, and that of confequence 
I ought to be encouraged ; that there were at Phila- 
delphia none but very ignorant printers, and that, if 
I were to fet up for myfelf, he had no doubt of my 
iuccefs ; that, for his own part, he would procure me 
all the public buhnefs, and would render me every 
other fervice ia his power. My brother-in-law rela- 
ted all this to me afterwards at Bofton ; but I knew 
nothing of it at the time ; when one day Keimer and 
1 being at work together near the window, we f aw the 
governor, and another gentleman, Col. French ofNew- 
caftle, handlbmely drelTed, crofs the ilreet, and make 
directly for our houfe. We heard them at the door, 
and Keimer, believing it to be a vilit to himfelf, 
went immediately down : but the governor inquired for 
me, came up flairs, and, with a condeicenfion and po- 
-iltenefs to which 1 had not at all been accuftomed, paid 
me many compliments, defired to be acquainted with 
me, obligingly reproached me for not having made 

my lb If 



DR, FRANKLIN, 41 

myfelf known to him on my arrival in the town, and 
wifhed me to accompany him to a tavern, where he 
and Colonel French were going, to tafte Tome excel- 
lent Madeira wine. 

I was, I confefs feme what furprifed, and Keimer 
appeared thunderftruck. I went however with the 
governor and the colonel to a tavern at the corner of 
Third-ftreet, where, while we were drinking the Ma-, ; 
deira, he propofed to me to eftablifli a printing-houfe. 
He let forth the probabilities of fuccefs, and himfelf 
and colonel French allured me that I fbould havetherr 
protection and influence in obtaining the printing of 
the public papers of both governments ; and as I ap- 
peared to doubt whether my father would adift me in 
this enterprife, Sir William laid that he would give 
me a letter to him, in which he would reprefent the 
advantages of the fcheme, in a light which he had no 
doubt would determine him. It was thus concluded 
that I fhould return to Boftoii by the firft veffel, with 
the letter of recommendation from the governor to my 
father. Meanwhile the project w: t s to be kept fecret, 
and I continued to work for Keimer as before. 

The governor lent every now and then to invite me 
to dine with hint. I conildereJ this as a very great 
bonor ; and I was the more fen Hole of it, as he con- 
vened wkh me in the mod affable, familiar and friend- 
ly manner imaginable. 

Towards the end of April T724, a fmall vefTel was 
ready to fail for Bolton. I took leave of Keimer, upon 
the pretext of going to fee my parents. The gover- 
nor gave me a long letter, in which he {'aid many flat- 
tering things of me to my father ; and (rrongly recom- 
mended the project of my fettling at Philadelphia, as 
a thing which could not. fail to make my fortune. 

Going down the bay we (truck on a flat, and fprung 
a leak. The weather was very tempefhious* and we 
were obliged to pump without intermiilion ; I took my 
turn. We arrived however fafe and found at Bolton, 
after ab^nt a fortnight's palfage. 

I had 



42 THE LIFE OF 

I bad been abfent feven complete months, and my 
relations during that interval, had received no intelli- 
gence of me ; for my brother-in-law, Holmes, was not 
yet returned, and had not written about me. My un- 
expected appearance furprifed the family ; but they 
were all delighted at feeing me again, and, except my 
brother, welcomed me home. I went to him at the 
printing-office. I was better drefTed than I had ever 
been while in his fervice : I had a complete fuit of 
clothes, new and neat, a watch in my pocket, and my 
purfe was furnifhcd with nearly five pounds fieri! ng in 
money. He gave me no very civil reception, and 
having eyed me from head to foot, relumed his work. 

The workmen aiked me with eagernefs where I had 
been, what fort of a country it was, and how I liked 
it. I fpoke in the highdt terms of Philadelphia, the 
happy life we led there, and expreffed my intention of 
going back again. One of them afking what fort of 
money we had, I difplayed before them a handful or 
filver, which 1 drew from my pocket. Tiiis was 
a curiolky to which they were not accuflomed, paper 
being the current money at Bofton. I failed not after 
this to let them fee my watch ; and at lad, my bro- 
ther continuing fulien and out of humour, I gave them 
a [hilling to drink, and took my leave. This vilit 
(lung my brother to the foul ; for when, fhortly after 
my mother fpoke to him of a reconciliation, and a de- 
iire of feeing us upon good terms, lie told her that I 
had fo infulted him before his men, that he would ne- 
ver forget or forgive it; in this, however, he was 
in iff a ken. 

The governor's letter appeared to excite in my fa- 
ther Ibme furprife ; but he faid little. After fpjne 
days, Capt. Holmes being returned, he (hewed it to 
him, aiking him if he knew Keith, and what fort of a 
man he was : adding, that in his opinion, it proved 
very little diicernment to think of letting up a boy in 
bufinefs, who for three years to come would not be of 
an age to be ranked in the clafs of men. Holmes faid 
every thing he could in favour of the fcheme ; but 

my 



D R. F R A N K L I N. 43 

my father firmly maintained its abfurdity, and at lafi: 
gave a pofitive refufal. He wrote, however a civil 
letter to Sir William, thanking him for the protection 
he had fo obligingly offered me, but refufmg to affift 
me for the prefent, becaufe he thought me too young 
to be entrufted with the conduct of fo important an 
enterprifej and which would require fo confiderable a 
fum of money. 

My old comrade Collins, who was a clerk in the 
pofl-office, charmed with the account I gave of my 
new refidence, exprefTed a defire of going thither; and 
while I waited my father's determination, he fet off 
before me, by land, for Rhode-Iiland, leaving his 
books, which formed a handfome collection in mathe- 
matics and natural philofophy, to be conveyed with 
mine to New-York, where he purpofed to wait 
for me. 

My father, though he could not approve Sir Willi- 
am's propofal, was yet pleafed that I had obtained fo 
advantageous a recommendation as that of a perfon of 
his rank, and that my induftry and economy had 
enabled me to equip myfelf lb handfomely in fo fhort 
a period. Seeing no appearance of accommodating mat- 
ters between my brother and me, he contented to my 
return to Philadelphia, adviled me to be civil to every 
body, to endeavour to obtain general efteem, and a- 
void fatire and iarcafm, to which he thought I was too 
much inclined ; adding, that, with perfeverance and 
prudent ceconomy, I might by the time I became of 
age, fave enough to eftabiiih myfelf in bufineis ; and 
that if a fmall fum mould then be wanting, he would 
undertake to fupply it. 

This was all I could obtain from him, except fome' 
trifling pre fen ts, in token of friendChip from him and 
my mother. I embarked once more for New-York, 
fumilhed at this time with their approbation and blef- 
fing. The (loop having touched at Newport in Rhode- 
Ifland, I paid a vifit to my brother John, who had for 
fome years been fettled there, and was married. He 
had always been attached to me,, and received me with 

great 



44 THE LIFE Of 

great affection. One of his friends, whofe name was 
Vernon, having a debt of about thirty fix pounds due 
to him in Pennfylvania, begged me to receive it for 
him 5 and keep the money till I lliould hear from him : 
accordingly he gave me an order for that purpoie. 
This affair occaiioned me, in the iequel, much uneafi- 
nefs. 

At Newport we took on board a number of pafien- 
gers ; among whom were two young women, and a 
grave and fenfible quaker lady with her l'ervants. I 
had fliewn an obliging forwardnefs in rendering the 
quaker fome trifling iervices, which led her probably, 
to feel fome interelt in my welfare ; for when Ihe law 
a familiarity take place, and every day increaie, be- 
tween the two young women and me, Hie took me 
afide and laid, " Young man I am in pain for thee. 
Thou haft no parent to watch over thy conduct, and 
thou feemeft to be ignorant of the world, and the fnares 
to which youth is expofed. Rely upon what I tell thee: 
thofe a;e women ot bad characters : 1 perceive it in 
all their actions. If then doll not take care, they 
will lead thee into danger. They are Grangers to 
thee, and I advife thee, by the friendly intereft I take 
in thy prefervation, to form no connection with them." 
As I appeared at run not to think quite lb ill of them 
as ihe did, (lie related many things Ihe had feen and 
heard, which had e leaped my attention, but which 
convinced me Ike was in the right. I thanked her for 
her obliging advice, and prom i led to follow it. 

When we arrived at New-York, they informed me 
where they lodged, and invited me to come and fee 
them. I did not however go, and it was well I did 
not ; for the next day, the captain milling a filver 
ipoon and fome ether things which had been taken 
from the cabin, and knowing thefe women to be prof- 
titutes, procured a learch warrant, found the ftolen 
goods upon them, and had them pimifhed. And thus 
after having been laved from one rock concealed un- 
der w,uer, upon which the veiTel (truck during ourpai- 

fage, 



DR, FRANKLIN. 45 

iage, I efcaped another of a ftill more dangerous na- 
ture. 

At New-York I found my friend Collins, who had 
arrived fome time before. We had been intimate from 
our infancy, and had read the fame books together ; 
and he had the advantage of being able to devote mure 
time to reading and fludy, and an adoniihing difpofi- 
tion for mathematics, in which he left me far behind 
him. When at Bofton, I had been aecuftomed to pafs 
with him almoft all my leifure hours. He was then a 
fober and indubious lad ; his knowledge had gained 
him a very general efteem, and he feemed to promife 
to make an advantageous figure in fociety. But du- 
ring my abfence, he had unfortunately addicted him- 
felf to brandy, and I learned, as well from himfelf as 
from the report of others, that every day fmce his 
arrival at New-York he had been intoxicated, and had 
acted in a very extravagant manner. He had alfo 
played, and loft all his money ; fo that I was obliged 
to p;jy his expences at the inn, "and to maintain him 
during the reft of the journey ; a burden that was ve- 
ry inconvenient to me. 

The governor of New- York, whofe name was Bur- 
net, hearing the captain fay that a young man who 
was a paiTenger in his (hip had a great number of 
books, begged him to bring me to his houfe. I ac- 
cordingly went and fliould have taken Collins with me 
had he been fober. The governor treated me with 
great civility, (hewed me his library, which was a very 
confiderable one, and we talked for fome time upon 
books and authors. This was the fecond governor 
who had honoured me with his attention ; and to a 
poor boy, as I then was, thefe little adventures did not 
fail to be pleafing. 

We arrived at Philadelphia. On the way I receiv- 
ed Vernon's money, without which we fhould have been 
unable to have finifhed our journey. 

Collins wifhed to get employment as a merchant's 
clerk; but either his breath or his countenance betray- 
ed his bad habit j for though he had recommendations 
D he 



4^6 THE LITE OF 

he met with no fuccefs, and continued to lodge and 
eat with me, and at my expence. Knowing that I 
had Vernon's money, he was continually afking me 
to lend hire fume cf it ; prcmifing to repay me as Too n 
as he ihould get employment. At laft he had drawn 
fo much of his money, that I was extremely alarmed 
at what might become of me, fhould he fail to make 
good the deficiency. His habit of drinking did not 
all diminifh, and was a frequent fource of diicord be- 
tween us; for when he had drank a little too much, 
he was very headftrong. 

Being one day in a boat together, on the Delaware 
with fome other young perfons, he refufed to take his 
turn in rowing. You fhall row for me, faid he, till 
we get home. — No, I replied, we will not row forycu 
—You (hall, faid he, or remain upon the water all 
flight. — As you pleafe. — Let us row, faid the reft of 
the company ; what figniries whether he afiifts or not. 
But, already angry with him for his condud in other 
refpecls, I periiftedin my refufal. He then (wore that 
he would make me row, or would throw me out of the 
boat ; and he made up to me. As loon as he was 
within my reach I took him by the collar, gave him a 
violent thruft, and threw him head-foremoft into the 
river. I knew that he was a good fwimmer, and was 
therefore under no apprehenfions for his life. Before 
he could turn himfelf we were able, by a few ftrokes 
of our oars, to place ourfelves out of his reach ; and 
whenever he touched the boat, we afked him if he 
would row, (Iriking his hands with the oars to make 
him let go his hold. He was nearly fuffocated with 
rage, but obftinately refufed making any promife to 
row. Perceiving at length that his ftrength began to 
be exhaufted, we took him into the boat, and convey- 
ed him home in the evening, completely drenched. 
The utmoft. coldnefs fubfifted between us after this 
adventure. At laft a captain of a Weft-India (hip, 
who was commiffioned to procure a tutor for the chil- 
dren of a gentleman at Barbadoes, meeting with Col- 
Hnsj offered him the place. He accepted it, and took 



DE, FRANKLIN* 47 

his leave of me, promifing to difcbarge the debt he 
owed me with the firft money he fhould receive ; but 
I have heard nothing of him fmce. 

The violation of the trv.fl repofed in me by Vernon, 
was one of the firft great errors of my life ; and it 
proves that my father was not miftaken when he fup- 
pofed me too young to be entrufted with the manage- 
ment of important affairs,- But Sir William, upon 
reading his letter thought him too prudent. There 
was a difference, he faid, between individuals : years of 
maturity were not always accompanied with diicreti- 
on, neither was youth in every inftance devoid of it. 
Since your father, added he will not let you up in bu- 
finefs, I will do it myfelf. Make out a lift of what 
will be wanted from England, and I will fend for the 
articles. You (hall repay me when you can. I am 
determined to have a good printer here, and I am fure 
you will fucceed. This was faid with fo much feem- 
ing cordiality, that I fufpecled not for an inflant the fin* 
cerityofthe offer. I had hitherto kept the project 
with which Sir William had infpired me, of fettling 
in bufmefs at Philadelphia, a fecret, and I ftill continu- 
ed to do fo. Had my reliance on the governor been 
known, fome friend, better acquainted with his charac- 
ter than myfelf, would doubtlefs have advifed me not 
to trufl him ; for I afterwards learned that he was uni- 
verfaliy known to be liberal of promifes, which he had 
no intention to perform. But having never folicited 
him, how could I fuppofe his offer to be deceitful ? 
On the contrary I believed him to be the beft man in 
the world. 

I gave him an inventory of a fmall printing-office : 
the expence of which I had calculated at about a hun- 
dred pounds fterling. He exprefled his approbation ; 
but aiked if my prefence in England, that I might 
choofe the characters myfelf, and fee that every ar- 
ticle was good in its kind, would not be an advantage. 
You will alio be able, faid he, to form fome acquain- 
tance there, and eftablifn a correfpondence with ftati- 
oners and bjckfdlers. This I acknowledged was de- 
niable 



48 THE LIFE OF 

firable. That being the cafe, added he, hold yourfelf 
in readinefs to go with the Annis. This was the an- 
imal veffel, and the only one, at that time, which 
made regular voyages between the ports of London 
and Philadelphia, But the Annis was not to fail for 
iome months. I therefore continued to work with 
Keimer, unhappy refpeding the fttra which Collins had 
drawn from me, and almoft in continual agony at the 
thoughts of Vernon, who fortunately made no demand 
of his money till feveral years after. 

In the account of my £rft voyage from Bofton to 
Philadelphia, I omitted I believe a trifling circum- 
ftance, which will not perhaps be out of place here. 
During a calm that fropped us above Block-Iiland, the 
crew employed themfelves in fiflling for cod, of which 
they caught a great number. I had hitherto adhered 
to my refolution of not eating any thing that had poi- 
fe fled life ; and I confidered on this occ avion, agree- 
sWy to the maxims of iny mailer Tryon, the capture 
of every fifh as a fort of murder, committed without 
provocation, fmce thefe animals had neither done, nor 
were capable of doing*, the fmallefl: injury to any one 
that fhould juftify the meafure. This mode of reafon- 
ing I conceived to be unanfwerable. Meanwhile I 
had formerly been extremely fond of fifh ; and when 
of thefe cod was taken out of the frying-pan, I 
thought its flavour delicious. 1 hefitated fome trntte be- 
tween principle and inclination, till at laft recollecting, 
that when the cod had been opened, feme final! fifh 
were found in its belly, I faid to myfelf if you eat one 
another. I fee no reafon why we may not eat yon. 
I accordingly dined on the cod with no fmali degree 
of pleafure, and have fmce continued to eat like the 
reft of mankind, returning only occafionally to my ve- 
getable plan. How convenient does it prove to be a 
rational animal, that knows how to find or invent a 
plaufible pretext for whatever it has an inclination 
to do ! 

I continued to live upon good terms with Keener, 
"who had not the fmallefl fufpicion of my projected efta- 

blifhmeht 



DR. FRANKLIN - . 49 

blifhment. He ftiil retained a portion of bis former 
cnthufiafm ; and being fond of argument we frequently 
difputed together. I was fo much in the habit of ufing 
my Socratic method, and had fo frequently puzzled him 
by my queitions, which appeared at firft very diftant 
from the point in debate, yet nevertheless led to it by 
degrees, involving him in difficulties and contradicti- 
ons from which he was unable to extricate himfelf, 
that he became at lad ridiculoufly cautious, and would 
fcarcely anfwer the mod plain and familiar quellion 
without previously afking me — What would you infer 
from that ? Hence he formed fo high an opinion of my 
talents for refutation, that he ferioufly propofed to me 
to become his colleague in the eflablifhment of a new 
religious feci. He was to propagate the doctrine by 
preaching, and I to refute every opponent, 

When he explained to me his tenets, I found many 
abfurdities which I refufed to admit, unlefs he would 
agree in turn to adopt fome of my opinions. Keimer 
wore his beard long, Becaufe Moles had fome/vvhere 
faid, Thou sbalt not mar the comers of thy beard. He 
likewiie oblerves the Sabbath ; and theie were with 
him two very elTential points, I difliked them both ; 
but I confented to adopt them, provided he would ab- 
llain from animal food. I doubt, faid he, whether my 
confritution will be able to fupport it. I allured him 
on the contrary, that he would find himfelf the better 
for it. He was naturally a glutton, and I v, ifhed to 
am nfe myfelf by ftarving him. He confented to make 
trial of this regimen, if I would bear him company ; 
and in reality we continued it for three months. A 
woman in the neighbourhood prepared and brought us 
our victuals, to whom I gave a lift of forty difhes ; in 
the coinpofition of which there entered neither fleih nor 
fim. This fancy was the more agreeable to me, as it 
turned to good account ; for the whole expence of our 
living did not exceed for each eighteen-pence a week. 
I have fmce that period obferved feveral Lents with 
reateft itriclnefs, and have fuddenly returned again 
inary diet, without experiencing the fmallefr. 

inconvenience ; 
D2 



50 THE LIFE OF 

inconvencience ; which has led me to regard as of n<> 
importance the advice commonly given of introducing^ 
gradually fuch alterations of regimen, 

I continued it cheerfully ; but poor Keimer fuffered 
terribly. Tired of the project, he fighed for the flefli 
pots of Egypt. At length he ordered a roaft pig, and 
invited me and two of our female acquaintance to dine 
with him ; but the pig being ready a little too foon, 
he could not refill the temptation, and eat it all up be- 
fore we arrived. 

During the circumftances I have related, I had paid 
fome attention to Mil's Read. I entertained for her 
the utmoft erteem and affection ; and I had reafon to 
believe that thefe lentiments were mutual. But we 
were both young, fcarcely more than eighteen years of 
age ; and as I was on the point of undertaking along 
voyage, her mother thought it prudent to prevent mat- 
ters being carried too far for the prefent, judging that 
if marriage was our object, there would be more pro- 
priety in it after my return, when, as at leaft I expect- 
ed, I fhould be eftablilhed in my bufinefs. Perhaps 
alfo (lie thought that my expectations were not fo well- 
founded as I imagined. 

My moft intimate acquaintance at this time were 
Charles Ofborne, Jofeph Watfon, and James Ralph ; 
young men who were all fond of reading. The two 
iirft were clerks to Mr. Charles Brockdon, one of the 
principal attornies in the town, and the other clerk to 
a merchant. Watfon was an upright, pious and ienfi- 
ble young man: the others were fomewhac more loofe 
in their principles of religion, particularly Ralph, 
whoie faith, as well as that of Collins, I had contribu- 
ted to fhake ; each of whom made me fuffer a veiy 
adequate punifhment. Ofborne was fenfible, and fin- 
cere and affectionate in his friewdlhips, but too much 
inclined to the critic in matters of literature. Ralph 
was ingenious and mrewd, genteel in his addrefs, and 
extremely eloquent. I do not remember to have met 
with a more agreeable fpeaker. They were both ena- 
moured 



DR, FRANKLIN. §1 

moured of the mules, and had already evinced their 
paflion by fome fmall poetical productions. 

It was a ctiftoTO with us to take a charming walk on 
Sundays, in the woods that border on the Schuylkill. 
Kere we read together, and afterwards converted on 
what we read. Ralph was difpofed to give himfelf up 
entirely to poetry. He flattered himfelf that he fhould 
arrive at great eminence in the art, and even acquire 
a fortune* The fublimeft poets, he pretended, when 
they firft began to write, committed as many faults as 
himfelf. Ufborne endeavoured to diiTuade him from 
it, by affuring him that he had no genius for poetry, 
and advifed him to ftick to the trade, in which he had 
been brought up. In the road of commerce, fa id he, 
you will be fure, by diligence and afliduii; , though 
you have no capital, of fo far fucceeding as to be em- 
ployed as a factor, and may thus, in time, acquire the 
means of fetting up foryourfelf. I concurred in thefe 
fentiments, but at the fame time exprefTed my appro- 
bation of amufmg ourfelves fometimes with poetry, 
with a view to improve our ftyle. In confequerxe of 
this it was propofed, that, at our next meeting, each 
of us fhould bring a copy of verfes of his own compo- 
fition. Our object in this competition was to benefit 
each other by our mutual remarks, criticifms, and cor- 
rections ; and as ftyle and expreiTion were all we had 
in view, we excluded every idea of invention, by a- 
greeing that our tafk fhould be a verfiop of the eigh- 
teenth Pfalm, in which is defcribed the defcent of the 
Deity. 

The time of our meeting drew near, when Ralph 
called upon me, and told me his piece was ready. I 
informed him that I had been idle, and, not much li- 
king the talk, had done nothing. He fhevved me his 
piece, and aiked what I thought of it. I exprelTed 
myfelf in terms of warm approbation ; becaufe it real- 
ly appeared to have confiderable merit. He then laid, 
Ofoorne will never acknowledge the fmallePt degree of 
excellence in any production of mine. Envy alone dic- 
tates 



52 THE LIFE OF 

tatesto him a thoufand animadverfions. Of you he is 
not fo jealous. I wi.fll therefore you would take the 
verfes, and produce them as your own. I will pretend 
not to have had leiiure to write any thing. We fhall 
then fee in what manner he will fpeak of them. I 
agreed to this little artifice, and immediately tranfcri- 
bed the verfes to prevent all fufpicion. 

We met. Watfon's performance was the flrfi: that 
was read. It had fome beauties, but many faults. We 
next read Ofborne's, which was much better. Ralph 
did it juftice, remarking a few imperfections, and ap- 
plauding fuch parts as were excellent. He had him- 
felf nothing to fhow. It was now my turn. I made 
fome difficulty ; feemed as if I wifhed to be excufed ; 
pretended that I had had no time to make corrections,. 
Sec. No excufe, however, was admiilible, and the 
piece muft be produced. It was read and' re-read. 
Watfon and Ofborne immediately refigned the palm, 
and united in applauding it. Ralph alone made a few 
remarks, and propofed fome alterations ; but I defend- 
ed my text. Ofborne agreed with me, and told Ralph 
he was no more able to criticife than he was able to 
write. 

When Ofborne was alone with me, he exprelTed 
himfelf lull more ftrongly in favour of what he cenfi- 
dered as my performance. He pretended that he had 
put fome reftraint on himfelf before, apprehenfive of 
my conflruing his commendation into flattery. But 
who would have fuppofed, fa id he, Franklin to be ca- 
pable of fuch a ccmpofition ? What painting, what 
energy, what fire 1 He has iurpaiTed the original. In 
his common converfation he appears not to have choice 
of words ; he hcfiiates, and is at a lofs ; and yet, good 
God how he writes : 

At our next meeting Ralph discovered the trick we 
had played Ofborne, who was rallied without mercy. 

By this adventure Ralph was fixed in his refolution 
of becoming a pcet. 1 left nothing unattempted to 
divert him from his purpofe ; but he perievered, till at 

Lift 



DR. FRANKLIN. 53 

laft the reading of Pope* eftefxed his cure : he became, 
however a very tolerable prole writer. I fhall fpeak 
more of him hereafter; but as I fhall probably have no 
farther occafion to mention the other two, I ought to 
obferve here, that Watfon died a few years after in my 
arms. He was greatly regretted ; for he was the beffc 
of our fociety. Ofborne went to the iflands, where he 
gained confiderahle reputation as a barfifter, and was 
getting money ; but he died young 1 . We had feriouf- 
ly engaged, that whoever died ftrft fhould return if 
poffible, and pay a friendly viiit to the iurvivor, to give 
him an account of the other world ; but he has never 
fulfilled his engagement. 

The governor appeared to be fond of my company* 
and frequently invited me to his houfe. He always 
fpoke of his intention of fettling me in > as a 

point that was decided. I was to take with me letters 
of recommendation to a number of friends ; a..d par- 
ticularly a letter of credit, in order to obtain the necef- 
&ry funi for the purchafe of my pre is, types and p 
He appointed various times for me to ccm? for thefe 
letters, which would certainly be ready ; and when I 
came, always put me ofF to another day. 

Thefe iucceilive delays continued till the veiTel wliofe 
departure had been feveral times deferred, was on the 
point of fetting fall: when I again went to Sir Wil- 
liam's houfe, to receive my letters, and take leave of 
him. I law Ins fecretary, Dr. Bard, who told me that 
the governor was extremely bnfy writing, but that he 
would be down at Newcaftle before the veffel, and that 
the letters would be delivered to me there. 

Ralph, though he was married and had a child, de- 
termined to accompany me in this voyage. His object 

was 



* Probably the Dune i ad, where we find him thus im- 
mortalized by the author : 

Silence, ye tvofoes, while Ralph to Cynthia bowls. 
And makes night hideous ; answer him, ye owls ! 



54 THE LIFE OF 

was fuppofed to be the eftablifliing a correfpondence 
with fome mercantile houfes, in order to fell goods by 
com million ; but I afterwards learned, that having rea- 
fon to be diiTatisfied with the parents of his wife, he 
propofed to himfelf to leave her on their hands and ne- 
ver return to America again. 

Having taken leave of my friends, and interchanged 
promifes of fidelity with Mils Read, I quitted Phila- 
delphia. At NewcafUe the veffel came to anchor. 
The governor was arrived, and I went to his lodgings. 
His fecretary received me with great civility, told me 
on the part of the governor that he could not fee me 
then, as he was engaged in affairs of the utmoft impor- 
tance, but that he would fend the letters on board, and 
that he wifhed me with all his heart, a good voyage 
and fpeedy return. I returned fomcwhit aftonifhed to 
the fhip, but flill without entertaining the flighted 
fufpicioB. 

Mr. Hamilton, a celebrated barrifter of Philadel- 
phia, had taken a paffage to England for himfelf and 
his fon, and, in conjunction with Mr. Denham a qua-- 
ker, and MeiTrs. Oniam and Ruffel, proprietors of a 
forge in Maryland, had agreed for the whole cabin, io 
that Ralph and I were obliged to take up our lodging 
with the crew. Being unknown to every body in the 
(hip, we were looked upon as the common order of peo- 
ple : but Mr. Hamilton and his £on (it was James, 
who was afterwards governor) left us at Newcaflle, 
and returned to Philadelphia, where he was recalled, at 
a very great expence, to plead the caufe of a veiTel 
that had been feized ; and juft as we were about to 
fail, colonel French came on board, and (hewed me 
many civilities. The palTengers upon this paid me 
more attention, and I was invited, together with my 
friend Ralph, to occupy the place in the cabin which 
the return of the Mr. Hamiltons had made vacant; an 
offer which we very readily accepted. 

Having learned that the difpatches of the governor 
had been brought on board by colonel French. I afk- 
ed the captain for the letters that were to be entrufUd 

to 



D R. F R A NK L 1 N. 55 

to my care. He told me that they were all put to- 
gether in the bag, which he could not open at prefent ; 
but before we reached England, he would give me an 
opportunity of taking them out. I was fatisfied with 
this anfwer, and we purfued our voyage. 

The company in the cabin were all very fcciable, 
and we were perfectly well off as to provifions, as we 
had the advantage of the whole of Mr. Hamilton's, 
who had laid in a very plentiful flock. During the 
pafTage Mr. Denham contracted a friendship for me, 
which ended only with his life : in other ref peels the 
voyage was by no means an agreeable one, as we had 
much bad weather. 

When we arrived in the river, the captain was as 
good as his word, and allowed me to fearch the bag 
for the governor's letters. I could not find a fingle 
one with my name written on it, as committed to my 
care ; but I felecled fix or feven, which I judged from 
the direction to be thofe that were intended for me ; 
particularly one to Mr. Bafket the king's printer, and 
another to a ftationer, who was the firfl: perfon I tailed 
upon. I delivered him the letter as coming from go- 
vernor Keith. " I have no acquaintance (laid he) 
u with any fuch perfon ;" and opening the letter, "Oh 
" it is from Riddlefden I" he exclaimed. " I have 
M lately discovered him to be a very arrant knave, and 
" I wifli to have nothing to do either with him or his 
" letters." He inftantly put the letter in my hand, 
turned upon his heel* and left me to ferve fome cus- 
tomers. 

I was afbnifhed at finding thefe letters were not 
from the governor. Reflecting, and putting circum- 
fiances together, I then began to doubt his finceritv. 
I rejoined my friend Denham, and related the whole 
affair to him. He let me at once into Keith's cha- 
racter, told me there was not the lean: probability of 
his having written a fingle letter ; that no one who 
knew him ever placed any reliance on him, and laugh- 
ed at my credulity,jn fuppofing that the governor would 
give me a letter or credit, when he had no credit for 

himfelf. 



$6 THE LIFE OP 

himfelf. As I (hewed fome uneafmefs refpe&ing what 
fiep I (hoiild take, he advifed me to try to get employ- 
ment in the boufe of feme printer. You may there, 
faid he, improve yourfelf in bufinefs, and you will be 
able to fettle yourfelf the more advaivtageoufly when 
you return to America. 

We knew already, as well as the nationer, attorney 
Riddlefden to be a knave. He had nearly ruined the 
father of Mrs. Redd, by drawing him in to be his fe- 
curity. We learned from his letter that he was fe- 
eretly carrying on an intrigue, in concert with the go- 
vernor, to the prejudice of Mr. Hamilton, who it was 
fuppofed would by this time be in Europe. Denham, 
who was Hamilton't friend, was of opinion that he 
ought to be made acquainted with it ; and in reality 
the inflant he arrived in England, which was very 
foon after, I waited on him, and, as much from good- 
will to him as from refentment againft the governor, 
put the letter into his hands. He thanked me very 
iincerely, the information it contained being of confe- 
quence to him ; and from that moment bellowed on 
me his friend (hip, which afterwards proved on many 
occaGons ferviceable to me. 

But what are we to think of a governor who could 
play fo icurvy a trick, and thus grofely deceive a poor 
young lad, wholly deftitute of experience? It was a 
practice with him. Wifhing to pleafe every body, and 
having little to beftow, he was laviih of promifes. He 
was in other refpedts fen£bie and judicious, a very to- 
lerable writer,: and a good governor for the people ; 
though not fo for the proprietaries, whofe initructions 
he frequently difregarded. Many of our beft laws 
were his work, and eftablilhed during his admimftra- 
tion. 

Ralph and I were infeparable companions. We 
took a lodging together at three-and-nxpence a week, 
which was as much as we could afford. He met with 
fome relation in London, but they were poor, and not 
able to afuft him. He now, for the nift time, in ! 
formed me of his intention to remain in England, and 

that 



DR, FRANKLIX. 57 

that he had no thoughts of ever returning to Philadel- 
phia. He was totally without money ; the little he 
had been able to raiie having barely fufficed for his 
paffage. I had dill fifteen piftoles remaining ; and to 
me he had from time to time recourfe, while he tried 
to get employment. 

At firft believing himfelf poflefled of talents for the 
ftage he thought of turning actor ; but Wilkes, to 
whom he applied, frankly advifed him to renounce the 
idea, as it was impoffible to fucceed. He next pro- 
poied to Roberts, a bookfeller in Paternofter-Row, to 
write a weekly paper in the manner of the fpedtator, 
upon terms, to which Roberts would not liften. Laft- 
ly he endeavoured to procure employment as a copyift, 
and applied to the lawyers and ftationers about the 
Temple ; but he could find no vacancy. 

As to myfelf I immediately got engaged at Pal- 
mer's, at that time a noted printer in Bartholomew 
Gloie, with whom I continued nearly a year. I appli- 
ed very adiducuily to my work; but I expended with 
Ralph almoll all that I earned. Plays and other 
places of amufement which we frequented together, 
having exhaufted my piftoles, we lived after this 
from hand to mouth. He appeared to have en- 
tirely forgotten his wife and child, as I alio by de- 
grees forgot my engagements with Mils Read, to 
whom I never wrote more thau one letter, and that 
merely to inform her that I was not likely to return 
foon. This was another grand error of my life, whicli 
I fhould be deilrous of correcting wegs I to begin my 
career again. 

I was employed at Palmer's on the fecond edition of 
Woolafton's Religion of Nature. Some of his argu- 
ments appearing to me not to be well founded, I wrote 
a fmall metaphyseal treatife, in which I animadverted 
0:1 thole paffages. It was entitled a Diflertation on 
Liberty and neceffity, Pleafure and Pain. I dedica- 
ted it to my friend Ralph, and printed a fmall number 
of copies. Palmer upon this treated me with more con- 
fide! ation, and regarded me as a young man of talents; 

though 
E 



58 T HE L I F E F 

though he ferioufly took me to tafk for the principles 
of my pamphlet, which he looked upon as abominable* 
The printing of this book was another error of my 
life. 

While I lodged in Little Britain I formed acquain- 
tance with a bookfeller of the name of Wilcox, whofe 
ihop was next door to me. Circulating libraries were 
not then in ufe. He had an immenfe collection of 
books of all forts. We agreed that, for a reafonable 
retribution, of which I have now forgotten the price, 
I fliould have free accefs to his library, and take what 
books I pleafed, which I was to return when I had 
read them. I confidered this agreement as a very 
great advantage ; and I derived from it as much be- 
nefit as was in my power. 

My pamphlet failing into the hand of a furgeon, of 
the name of Lyons, author of a book entitled Infalli- 
bility of Human Judgment, was the occafion of a con- 
fiderable intimacy between us. He expreffed great 
efleem for me, came frequently to fee me, in order to 
converfe upon metaphyseal fubjects, and introduced 
me to Dr. Mandeyill, author of the Fable of Bees, who 
who had inftituted a club at a tavern in Cheaplide, of 
which he was the foul : he was a facetious and very 
amufmg character. He alfo introduced me, at Baf- 
ton's coffee-houfe, to Dr. Pemberton who promifed to 
give me an opportunity of feeing Sir Ifaac Newton, 
which I very ardently defired ; But he never kept his 
word. 

I had brought fome curiofities with me from Ame- 
rica ; the principal of which was a purfe made of af- 
beitos, which fire only purifies. Sir Hans Sloane hear- 
ing of it, called upon me, and invited me to his houfe 
in Bloomibury fquare, where, after [hotting me every- 
thing that was curious, he prevailed on me to add this 
piece to his colleclion ; for which he paid me very 
handfomely. 

There lodged in the fame houfe with us a young 
woman, a milliner, who had a (hop by the (ide of the 
exchange. Lively and fenfible, and -having received 

an 



DR. FRANKXI N. 59 

an education fume what above her rank, her converfa- 
tion was very agreeable. Ralph read plays to her eve- 
ry evening. They became intimate. She took ano- 
ther lodging, and he followed her. They lived for 
ibme time together; but Ralph being without employ- 
ment, flie having a child, and the profits of her buli- 
nefs not lufRcing for the maintenance of three, he re- 
folded to quit London and try a country fchool. This 
was a plan in which he thought himfelf likely to fuc- 
ceed, as he wrote a fine hand and was verfcd in arith- 
metic and accounts. B.it confide ring the office as be- 
neath him, and expecting feme day to make a better 
figure in the wcild, when he mould be alhamed of its 
g known that he had exercifed ?. ., io little 

honorable, he changed his name and did me the ho- 
nour of a (Turning mine. Ke wrote to me foon after 
his departure, informing me that he was fettled at a 
fmall village in Bcrkfliire. In his letter he lecom- 
• isended Mrs. T***, the milliner to my care, and requeu- 
ed an anfver, directed to Mr. Franklin; fch ool mailer 
at N***. 

Ke continued to write to me frequently, fending 
me large fragments of an epic poem he was compet- 
ing, and which he requeued me to criticife and correct. 
I did [o^ but not without endeavouring to prevail on 
him to renounce this purfuit. Young had juft pub- 
lished one on his Satires. I copied and lent him a 
great part of it ; in which the author demonftrates the 
folly of cultivating the Mufes, from the hope, by their 
iuftrumentality, of riling in the world. It was all to 
no purpofe ; paper after paper of his poem continued 
to arrive every pott. 

Meanwhile Mrs. T*** having loft, on his account, 
both her friends and her bufmefs, was frequently in 
diftrefs. In this dilemma (he had recourfe tome; and 
to extricate her from her difficulties, I lent her all the 
money I could fpare. 1 felt a little too much fond- 
nefs for her. Having at that time no ties of religion, 
and taking advantage of her neceflitous fituation, 1 
attempted liberties (another error of my life) which /he 

repelled 



60 THE LIFE OF 

repelled with becoming indignation. She informed 
Ralph of my conduct ; and the affair occafioned a 
breach between us. When he returned to London, he 
gave me to underftand that he confidered all the obli- 
gations he owed me as annihilated by this proceeding ; 
whence I concluded that I was never to expect the 
payment of what money I had lent him, or advanced on 
his account. I was the lefs afflicted at this, as he was 
unable to pay me ; and as, by loiing his friendfliip, I 
was relieved at the fame time from a very heavy bur- 
den. 

I now began to think of laying by fome money. 
The printing- houfe of Watts, near Lincoln's Inn- 
Field?, being a (till more considerable one than that 
in which I worked, it was probable I might find it more 
advantageous to be employed there. I offered myfelf, 
and was accepted ; and in this houfe I continued dur- 
ing the remainder of my flay in London. 

On my entrance I worked- at firft as a preffman con- 
ceiving that I bad need of bodily exercife, to which I 
had been accuftomed in America, where the printers 
v.ork alternately as compoiitors and at the prefs. I 
drank nothing but water. The other workmen, to the 
number of about fifty, were great drinkers of beer. I 
carried occasionally a large form of letters in each hand, 
up and down flairs, while the re It employed both hands 
to carry one. They were furprifed to fee, by this and 
y other examples, that the American Aquatic, as 
they ufed to call me, was Stronger than thole who drank 
porter. The beer boy had Sufficient employment dur- 
ing the whole day in Serving that houfe alone. My 
fellow-preffmen drank every day a pint of beer before 
Lreakfafr, a pint with bread and cheefe for bieakfaft, 
one between breakfaft and dinner, one at dinner, one 
again about fix o'clock in the afternoon, and another 
after he had anifhed his day's woik. This cuftom ap- 
peared to me abominable ; but he had need, he faid, of 
all this beer, in oider to acquire flrength to work. 

I endeavoured to convince him that bodily Strength 
furniShed by the beer, could only be in proportion to 

the 



DR. FRAN K L I N. 6% 

the folid part of the barley diffolved in the water of 
which the beer was compofed ; that there was a larger 
portion of flour in a penny loaf, and that confequent- 
ly if he eat this loaf, and drank a pint of water with 
it, he would derive more (trength from it than from a 
pint of beer. This reaibning, however, did not pre- 
vent him from drinking his accudomed quantity of 
beer, and paying every Saturday night a fcore of four 
or five (hillings a week for this curled beverage ; an 
expence from which I was wholly exempt. Thus do 
thefe poor devils continue all their lives in a date of 
voluntary wretchednefs and poverty. 

At the end of a few weeks, Watts having occafion 
for me above (lairs as a compolitor, I quitted the prels. 
The compofitors demanded of me garnifh money afrefli. 
This I confidered as an impofition, having already 
paid below. The matter was of the fame opinion, and 
delired me not to comply. I thus remained two or 
three weeks out of the fraternity. I was confequently 
looked upon as excommunicated ; and whenever I was> 
abfent, no little trick that malice could fugged was 
left unpra&ifed upon me. I found my letters mixed, 
my pages tranfpoied, my matter broken. Sec. &c. all 
which was attributed to the fpirit that haunted the 
chapel,* and tormented thofe who were not regularly 
admitted. I was at lad obliged to fubmit to pay not- 
withflanding the piote&iou of the mader ; convinced 
of the folly of not keeping up a good undemanding 
with thofe among whom we are dedined to live. 

After this I lived in the utmod harmony with my 
fellow-labourers, and foon acquired confiderable influ- 
ence among them. I propofed force alterations in the 
laws cf the chapel, which I carried without oppofjtion. 
My example prevailed with feveral of them to renounce 
their abominable practice of bread and cheefe with 

beer ; 



* Printing bouses in general are thus denominated 
by the ivorhnen; the fpirit tbey call by the name of 
"alph. 



62 THE LIFE OF 

beer ; and they procured, like me, from a neighbour- 
ing houfe, a good baibn of warm giuel, ifi which was 
a imall flice of butter, with toafted bread and nutmeg. 
This was a much better breakfait, which did not coif 
more than a pint of beer, namely, three-halfpence, and 
at the fame time preferved the head clearer. Thole 
who continued to gorge themfelves with beer, often 
loft their credit with the publican, from neglecting to 
pay their fcore. They had then recourfe to me, to 
become fecurity for them ; their light, as they ufedto 
call it, being out. I attended at the pay-table every 
Saturday evening, to take up the little fum which I 
had made myfelf anfwerable for ; and which fometimes 
amounted to nearly thirty millings a week. 

This circumftance, added to my reputation of being 
a tolerable good gabber, or, in other words, ikilful in 
the art of burlefque, kept up my importance in the 
chapel. I had belides recommended myfelf to the ef- 
teem of my matter by my affiduous application to bu- 
iinefs never obferving Saint Monday. My extraoidi- 
nary quicknefs in compofing always procured me fuch 
Work as was moft urgent, and which is commonly bell: 
paid; and thus my time paffed away in a very plea- 
iant manner. 

My lodging m Little Britain being too far from the 
printing-houie, I took another in Duke ftreet, cppofite 
the Roman Chapel. It was at the back of an Italian 
warehoufe. The houfe was kept by a widow, who 
had a daughter, a fervant, and a (hop boy ; but the 
latter ilept out of the houfe. After fending to the 
people with whom I had lodged in Little Britain, to 
enquire into my character, Hie agreed to take me in at 
the fame price, three and fixpence a week ; contenting 
herfelf, (he faid, with fo little, becaufe of the fecurity 
flie would derive, as they were all women, from having 
a man lodge in the houfe. 

She was a woman rather advanced in life, the daugh- 
ter of a clergyman. She had been educated aPro- 
tcftant ; but her hufband, whofe memory (he highly 
revered, had converted her to the Catholic religion. 

She 



DR. F R A NKLI tf . 6$ 

She bad lived in habits of intimacy with perfons ofdif- 
tindion ; *of whom Ihe knew various anecdotes as far 
back as the time of Charles II. Being fubjed to fits 
of the gout which often confined her to her room,, ihe 
was ibmetimes difpofed to fee company. Her's was fo 
amufing to me that I was glad to pais the evening with 
her as often as (lie defired it. Oar fupper confided on- 
ly of half an anchovy a-piece, upon a dice of bread and 
butter, with half a pint of ale between us. But the 
entertainment was in her conversation. 

The early hours I kept, and the little trouble I cc- 
cafioned in the family, made her loath to part with me ; 
and when I mentioned another lodging I had fou 
nearer the printing-hcufe, at two {hillings a week, 
which fell in with my plan of faving, (lie perfuaded me 
to give it up, making herfelf an abatement cf two 
{hillings ; and thus I continued to lodge with her, du- 
ring the remainder of my abode in London, at eighteen 
pence a week. 

In the garret of the houfe there lived, in the mofl: 
retired manner, a lady feventyjyears of age, of w horn I 
received the following account from my landlady. She 
was a Roman Ghatholic. In her early years ihe had 
been lent to the continent, and entered a convent with 
the deiign of becoming a nun ; but the climate net 
agreeing with her confritution, fne was obliged to re- 
turn to England, where, as there was no mona(leries r 
fne made a vow to lead a monadic life, in as rigid a 
manner as circumfiances would permit. She accord- 
ingly diipofed of all her property, to be applied to cha- 
ritable uies, reierving to herfelf only twelve pounds a 
year; and of this fmall pittance (he gave a part to the 
poor, living on water-gruel, and never making ufe of 
fie but to boil it. She h^d lived in this garret a great 
many years, without paying rent to the. fucceffive Ca- 
tholic inhabitants that had kept the houfe ; who indeed 
confidered her abode with them as ablefiing. A piieft 
came every day to confefs her. I have aiked her, faid 
my landlady, how, living as (he did, fne could find fo 
much employment for a cenfeffor ? To which (lie an- 
fwered, that it was impoiiible to avoid vain thoughts. 

I was 



64 THE LIFE OF 

I was once permitted to vifit her. She was cheerful 
and polite, and her cqnverfation agreeable. Her a- 
partmentwas neat; bat the whole furniture confided of 
a mattrafs, a table, on which were a crucifix and book, 
a chair, which flic gave me to fit on, and over the man- 
tle-piece a pieiure of St. Veronica, diiplaying her hand- 
kerchief, on which was feen the miraculous impreffi- 
on of the face of Chrifr, which Ihe explained to me 
with great gravity. Her countenance was pale, but 
(lie had never experienced ficknefs ; and I may adduce 
her as another proof how little is fufficient to maintain 
life and health. 

At the priming-houfe I contracted an intimacy with 
afenfible young man of the name of Wygate, who, 
as his parents were in good circumftances, had received 
a better education than is common among printers- 
He was a tolerable Latin fcholar, fpoke French fluent- 
ly, and was fond of reading. I taught him, as,well as a 
friend of his, to fwini, by taking them twice only into 
the river; after which they flood in need of no farther 
afliftance. We one day made a party to go by water 
to Chelfea, in order to fee the College, and Don Sol- 
tero's curiofities. On our return, at the requefr of the 
company, whole curiofity Wygate had excited, I un- 
d relied myielf and leaped into the river. I fw.am from 
near Chelfea the whole way to Blackfriars Bridge, ex- 
hibiting during my couife, a variety of feats of activi- 
ty and addrefs, both upon the furface of the water, as 
well as under it. This fight occaiioned much afton- 
ifhment and pleafure to thoie to whom it was new. In 
my youth I took great delight in this exercife. I 
knew, and could execute, all the evolutions and por- 
tions of Thevenct ; and I added to them fome of my 
o.vn invention, in which I endeavoured to unite grace- 
fulnefs and utility. I took a pleafure in displaying 
them all on this occafion, and was highly flattered with 
the admiration they excited. 

Wygate bcfides his being defirous of perfecting him- 
felf in this art, was the more attached tome from their 
being, in other reipetts, a conformity in cur tafles and 

ftudies 



D H. FRANKLIN. 65 

ftudies. He at length propofed to me to make the 
tour of Europe with him, maintaining' ourfelves at the 
fame time by working at our profeflion. I was on 
the point of conferring, when I mentioned it to my 
friend Denham, with whom I was glad to pafs an hour 
whenever I had leifure. He diiTuaded me from the 
project, and advifed me to return to Philadelphia, 
which he was about to do himfelf. I muft relate in 
this place a trait of this worthy man's character. 

He had formerly been in bufinefs at Briftol, but 
failing, he compounded with his creditors, and depart- 
ed for America, where, by afliduous application as a 
merchant, he acquired in a few years a very considera- 
ble fortune. Returning to England in the fame vef- 
fel with myfclf, as I have related above, he invited all 
his old creditors to a feaft. When afiemhled, he thank- 
ed them for the readir:efs with which they had receiv- 
ed bis fmall competition ; and, while they expected 
nothing more than a fimple entertainment, each found 
under his plate when it came to be removed, a 
draft upon a banker for the refidue of his debt with 
intcreft. 

He told me it was his intention to carry back with 
him to Philadelphia a grent quantity of goods, in or- 
der to open a ftore ; and he offered to take me with 
him in the capacity of clerk, to keep his books, in 
which he would initrudl me, copy letters, and fuperin- 
tend the ftore. He added, that, as foon as I had ac- 
quired a knowledge of mercantile trail factions, he 
would improve my fituation, in fending me with a 
cargo of corn and flour to the American iilands, and 
by procuring me other lucrative com million s : fo that, 
with good management and ceconomy, I might in time 
begin bufinefs with advantage for mylelf. 

I relifhed thefe propofals. London began to tire 
me ; the agreeable hours I had paffed at Philadelphia 
preiented themfelves to my mind, and I wilhedto fee 
them revive, I confequently engaged myfelf to Mr. 
Denham, at a falary of fifty pounds a year. This was 
indeed leis than I earned as a compolitorj but then I 

had 



66 THELIFEOP 

had a much fairer profpeft. I took leave, therefore, as I 

believed forever, of printing, and gave myfelCup en- 
tirely to my new occupation, fpending all my time ei- 
ther in going from houfe to houfe with Mr. Denham to 
purchafe goods, or in packing them up, or in expediting 
the workmen, &x. Sec. When every thing however was 
on board, I had at lad a few days leiftlre. 

During this interval, I was one day fen.t for by a 
gentleman, whom I knew only by name. It was Sir 
William Wyndham. I went to his houfe. He had 
by fome means heard of my performances between 
Chelfea and Blackfriars, and that I had taught the art 
of fwimmirsg to Wygate and another young man in the 
courfe of a few hours. His two ions were on the 
point of fetting out on their travels; he was defirous 
that they (hould previoufly learn to fwim, and offered 
me a vciy liberal reward if I would undertake to in- 
struct them. They were not yet arrived in town, and 
the ftay I (hould make myfelf was uncertain ; I could 
not therefore accept his propofal. I was led however 
to fuppofe from this incident* that if I had wifhed to re- 
main in London and open a fwimming-ichool I (hould 
perhaps have gained a great deal of money. This 
idea (truck me fo forcibly, that, had the offer been made 
fooner, I (hould have difmiffed the thought of return- 
ing as yet to America. Some years after, you and I 
had a more important bufinefs to fettle with one of 
the foils of Sir William Wyndham, then Lord Egre- 
mont. But let us not anticipate events. 

I thus pafTed about eighteen months in London, 
working alm.)fl without interm flion at my trade, a- 
voidingall expence on my own account, except going 
now and then to the play and purchafing a few books. 
But my friend Ralph kept me poor. He owed me 
about twenty-feven pounds, which was fo much mo- 
ney lott : and when confidered as taken from my lit- 
tle favings, was a very great fum. I had notwith- 
standing this a regard for him, as he poffeffed many 
amiable qualities. But though I had djue nothing for 

myfelf 



DR. FRANKLIN. 6j 

myfdf in point of fortune, I had in ere a fed my (lock 
of knowledge, either by the many excellent books I 
bad read, or the converfation of learned and literary 
perfons with whom I was acquainted. 

We failed from Gravefend the 23d of July 1726. 
For the incidents of my voyage I refer you to my 
Journal, where you will find all the circumftances mi- 
nutely related. We landed at Philadelphia on the nth 
of the following October. 

Keith had been deprived of his office of governor, 
and was fucceeded by Major Gordon. I met him 
walking in the ftreets as a private individual. He ap- 
peared a little afhamed at feeing me, but paffed on 
without faying any thing. 

I ihcukl have been equally afhamed myfelf at meet- 
ing Mils Read, had nor: her family, juftly despairing 
of my return after reading my letter, advifed her to 
give me up, and marry a potter, of the name of Ro- 
gers ; to which (he contented: but he never made her 
happy, and (he foon feparated from him, refufing to 
cohabit with him, or even bear his name, on account 
of a report which prevailed, of his having another wife- 
His fkill in his proftllion had feduced Mils Read's pa- 
rents ; but he was as bad a fttbjedl as he was excellent 
as a workman. Ke involved himielf in debt, and Med, 
in the year 1727 or 1728, to the Wed Indies, where 
he died, 

During my abfence Keimer had taken a more con- 
fiderable houie, in which he kept a (hop, that was well 
iupplied with paper, and various other articles. He 
had procured fome new types, and a number of work- 
men ; among whom, however there was not one who 
was good for any thing ; and he appeared not to want 
bufinefs. 

Mr. Denham took a warehoufe in Water-ftreet, 
where we exhibited our commodities. I applied my- 
felf clcfely, iludied account?, and became in a fnort 
time very expert in trade. We lodged and eat together. 
He was fmcerely attached to me, and acted towards 
jne as if he had been my father. On my fide, I re- 

fpecled 



68 THELIFEOF 

fbected and loved him. My fituation was happy ; but 
it was a happinefs of no long duration. 

Early in February 1727, when I entered into my 
twenty-fecond year, we were both taken ill. I was 
attacked with a pleurify, which had nearly carried me 
off; I fuffered terribly, and confide led it as all over 
with me. I felt indeed a fort of disappointment when. 
I found myielf likely to recover, and regretted that I 
had ftill to experience, fooner or later, the fame dif- 
agreeable fcene again. 

I have forgotten what was Mr. Denham's diforder; 
but it was a tedious one, and he at lair, funk under it. 
He left me a frnall legacy in his will, as a teflimony 
of his friendihip ; and I was once more abandoned to 
myielf in the wide world, the warehoufe being confi- 
ded to the care of the teilamentary executor, who dif- 
HlifTed me. 

Wly brother-in-law, Holmes, who happened to be at 
Philadelphia, adviied me to return to my former pro- 
feifion ; and Keimer offered me a very confiderable fa- 
lary if I would undertake the management of his print- 
ing-office, that he might devote himfelf entirely to the 
fuperintendance of his {hop. Kis wife and relations 
in London had given me a bad character of him ; and 
I was loath, for the prefent, to have any concern with 
him. lendeavouied to get employment as a clerk to 
a merchant ; but not readily finding a iituation, I was 
induced to accept Keimer's propofal. 

The following were the perlbns I found in his print? 
ing-houfe; 

Hugh Meredith a Pennfylvanian, about thirty-five 
years of age. He had been brought up to husbandry, 
was honeil, fenfible, had fome experience, and was fond 
of reading ; but too much addicted to drinking. 

Stephen Potts, a young ruftic, juft broke from fchool, 
and of rullic education, with endowments rather above 
the common order, and a competent portion of under- 
(landing and gaiety ; but little idle. Keimer had en- 
gaged thefe two at very low wages, which he had pro- 
miied to raiie every three months a (billing a week, 

provided 



DR. FRANKLIN, 69 

provided their improvement in the typographical art 
mould merit it. This future increaie of wages was 
the bait he made uleof to enfnare them. Meredith was 
to work at the prefs, and Potts to bind books, which he 
had engaged to teach them, though he underftood nei- 
ther himfelf. 

John Savage, an Irifhman, who had been brought 
up to no trade, and whole fervice, for a period of four 
years, Keimer had purchafed of the captain of a Ihip. 
He was alfo to be a preflman. 

George Webb an Oxford fcholar, whofe time he 
had in like manner bought for four years, intending 
him for a compofitor. I (hall fpeak more of him pre- 
fently. 

Laftly, David Harry, a country lad, who was ap- 
prenticed to him. 

I loon perceived that Keimer's intention, in engag-- 
ing me at a price fo much above what he was accuf- 
tomed to give, was, that might form all thefe raw 
journeymen and apprentices, who fcarcely colt him any 
thing, and who, being indentured, would as loon as 
they (hould be iuniciently in (trucked, enabled him to do 
without me* I neverthelefs adhered to my agreement. 
I put the office in order, which was in the utmoft con- 
fuiion, and brought his people by degrees, to pay at- 
tention to their work, and to execute it iw a more maf- 
terly manner. 

It was lingular to fee an Oxford fcholar in the con- 
dition of a purchafed fervant. He was not more than 
eighteen years of age ; and the following are the par- 
ticulars he gave me of himfelf. Born at Gloucefler, he 
had been educated at a grammar fchool, and had diC. 
tinguifhed himfelf among the fcholars by his fuperior 
itvle of acting, when they reprefented dramatic per- 
formances. 

He was member of a literary club in the town ; and 
fome pieces of his compofition, in profe as well as in 
verfe, had been inferted in the Gloucefler papers. From 
hence he was fent to Oxford, where he remained about 
•a year : but he was not contented, and wiflied above 

all 
F 



70 THE LIFE OF 

all things to fee London, and become an actor. At 
length having received fifteen guineas to pay his quar- 
ter's board, he decamped with the money from Oxford, 
hid his gown in a hedge, and travelled to London. 
There, having no friend to direct him he fell into bad 
company, foon fquandered his fifteen guineas, could 
find no way of being introduced to the adors, became 
contemptible, pawned his clothes, and was in want 
of bread. As he was walking along the ftreets, almoft 
famifhed with hunger, and not knowing what to do, a 
recruiting bill was put into his hand, which offered an 
immediate treat and bounty-money to whoever was 
difpofed to ferve in America. He inftantly repaired 
to the houfe of rendezvous, inlifted hlmtelf, was put 
on board a fhip and conveyed to America, without 
ever writing to inform his parents what was become 
of him. His mental vivacity, and good natural dif- 
pofition, made him an excellent companion ; but he 
was indolent, thoughtlefs, and to the lafl degree im- 
prudent. 

John, the Irifhman, foon ran aw 7 ay. I began to live 
very agreeable with the reft. They refpected ine, and 
the more lb as they found Keimer incapable of inftrudl- 
ing them, and as they learned fomething from me eve- 
ry day. We never worked on a Saturday, it being 
Keimer's fabbath ; fo that I had two days a week for 
reading. 

I increafed my acquaintance with perfons of know- 
ledge and information in the town. Keimer himfeif 
treated me with great civility, and apparent efteem ; 
and I had nothing to give me uneafmefs but my debt 
to Vernon, which I was unable to pay, my favings as 
yet being very little. He had the gooduefs, however, 
not to afk me for the money. 

Our prefs was frequently in want of the necefTary 
quantity of letter ; and there was no fuch trade as that 
of letter-founder in America. I had feen the practice 
of this art at the houfe of James, in London ; but had 
at the fame time paid it very little attention. I how- 
ever contrived to fabricate a mould. I made ufe ot 

fuch 



DR. FRANKLIN. 7 1 

ibch letters as we had for punches, founded new letters 
of Lead in matrices of clay, and thus fupplied in a 
tolerable manner, the wants that were mofl prefling. 

I alfo, upon occafion, engraved various ornaments, 
made ink, gave an eye to the fhop ; in fhort, I was in 
every refpeet the. factotum. But ufeful as I made my- 
felf, I perceived that my fervices became every day of 
lefs importance, in proportion as the other men im- 
proved ; and when Keimer paid me my fecond quarter's 
wages, he gave me to underftand that they were too 
heavy, and that he thought I ought to make an abate- 
ment. He became by degrees lefs civil, and aitumed 
more the tone of mailer. He Frequently found fault, 
was difficult to pleafe, and feemed always on the point 
of coming to an open quarrel with me. 

I continued, however, to bear it patiently, conceiv- 
ing that his ill humour was partly occasioned by tie 
derangement and embarraffment of his affairs. At laft 
a flight incident broke our connection. Hearing a 
roife in the neighbourhood, I put mv head out of the 
window to fee what was the matter. Keimer being lit 
the ftreet, obferved me, and in a loud and angry tone 
told me to mind my work ; adding fome reproachful 
words, which piqued me the more as they were uttered 
in the (beet, and the neighbours, whom the fame noife 
had attracted to the windows, were witneffes of the 
manner in which I was treated. Pie immediately 
came up to the printing-room, and continued to ex- 
claim againft me. The quarrel became warm on both 
fides, and he gave me notice to quit him at the expi- 
ration of three months, as had been agreed between 
us ; regretting that he was obliged to give me fo long 
a term. I told him that his regret was fuperfluous, as 
I was ready to quit him inftantly ; I took my hat and 
came out of the houffe, begging Meredith to take care 
of fome things which I left, and bring them to my 
lodgings. 

Meredith came to me in the evening. We talk- 
ed for fome time upon the quarrel that had taken place. 

He 



/2 THX LIFE OP 

He had conceived a great veneration for me, and was 
forry I fhould quit the houfe while he remained in it. 
He difluaded me from returning to my native country* 
as I began to think of doing. He reminded me that 
Keimer owed more than he pofTeffed ; that his credi- 
tors began to be alarmed ; that he kept his fhop in a 
wretched (rate, often felling things- at prime coil for 
the fake of ready money, and continually giving cre- 
dit without keeping anyaeeounts} that of confequence 
he mud very foon fail, which would occafion a vacancy 
from which I might derive advantage. I objected 
my want of money* Upon which he informed me 
that his father had a very high opinion cf me, and, 
from a conversation that had paiTed between them, he 
wa3 fure that he would advance whatever might be ne- 
ceiTary to eftablifh us, if I was willing to enter into 
partnership with him. " My time with Keimer,' , add- 
ed he, " will be at an end next fpring. In the mean 
time we mayfend to London for our prefs and types. 
I know that I am no workman ; but if you agree to 
the propofal ? yourikill in the bufinefs will be ba^CCi 
by the capital I will furnifh, and we will (hare the pro- 
fits equal \yj* His propofal was reafonable, and 1 fell 
in with it. His father who was then in the town, 
approved of it. He knew that I had fome afcendency 
over his fon, as I had been able to prevail on him to 
ahQain a long time from drinking brandy ; and he 
hoped, that when more clofely connected with him, I 
iiioald cure him entirely cf this unfbrtuuajte habit. 

I gave the father a lift of what it would be necefia- 
iy to import from London. He took it to a mer- 
chant, and the o:der was given. We agreed to keep 
the fecret till the arrival cf the materials, and I was 
in the mean time to procure work, if pofhble, in ano- 
ther printing-hcufe ; but there >as no place vacant, 
and I remained idle. After fome days, Keimer hav- 
ing the expectation of being employed to print fome 
New-Jerfey money-bills, that would require types and 
engravings which I only could furnilh, and fearful that 
Bradford by engaging me, might deprive him cf the 

undertakinrr 



D R. F R A N KLI N. 73 

undertaking, lent me a very civil meffage telling me 
that old friends ought not to be difunited on account 
of a few words, which were the effect only of a mo- 
mentary paffion, and invited me to return to him. 
Meredith perfuaded me to comply with the invitation, 
particularly as it would afford him more opportunities 
of improving himfelf in the bufineis by means of my 
initruclions. I did lb, and we lived upon better terms 
than before our feparation.. 

He obtained the New-Jerfey bufinefs ; and in order 
to execute it, I conftructed a copper-plate printing- 
prefs y the £111: that had been feen in the country. I 
engraved various ornaments and vignettes for the bills; 
and we repaired to Burlington together, where I exe- 
cuted the whole to the general fatisfaction ; and he 
received a fum of money for this work, which enabled 
him to keep his head above water for a coniiderable 
time longer. 

At Burlington I formed acquaintance with the prin~ 
cipal perfonages of the province ; many of whom were 
commiflioned by the afTembly to fuperintend the prefs, 
and to fee that no more bills were printed than the 
law had prescribed. Accordingly they were conftant- 
]y with us, each in his turn ; and he that came com- 
monly brought with him a friend or two to bear him 
company. My mind was more cultivated by reading 
than Keimer's ;. and it was for this reafon, probably, 
that they let more value on my converfation. They 
took me to their houfes, introduced me to their friends 
and treated me with the greateft civility ; while Kei- 
mer, though matter, faw himfelf a little neglected. 
He was, in fa<ft, a Itrange animal, ignorant of the com- 
mon modes of life, apt tooppofewith rudenefs general- 
ly received opinions, an enthufiaf^: in certain points of 
religion, difguftingly unclean in his perfon, and a little 
kiia villi withal. 

We remained there nearly three months ; and at 
the expiration of this period I couJd conclude in the 
hit of my friends, Judge Alien, Samuel Buitil, iecre- 
tary of the province, Ifaac Pearlbn, jofeph Cooper, 

fevered 
F 2 



74 THE LIFE Of 

feveral of the Smiths,- all members of the aflembiy,- 
and Ifaac Deacon, infpector-general. The lad was a 
ihrewd and fubtle old man. He told me, that, when a 
boy, his firft employment had been that of carrying 
clay to brick-makers ; that he did not learn to write 
till he was fomewbat advanced in life ; that he was 
afterwards employed as an underling to a furveyor, 
who taught him his trade, and that by induftry 
he had at laft acquired a competent fortune. " I fore- 
fee," faid he one day to me, u that you will foon fup- 
plant this man," fpeaking of Keimer, " and get a for- 
tune in the bufinefs at Philadelphia." He was to- 
tally ignorant at the time of my intention of efiablifh- 
ing myfelf there, or any where elfe. Thefe friends 
were very ferviceable to me in the end, as was 1 alfo 
upon occafion tofome of them ; and they have continued 
ever iince their efteem for me. 

Before I relate the particulars of my entrance into 
bufinefs, it may be proper to inform you what was at 
that time the (late of my mind as to moral principles 
£hat you may fee the degree of influence they had upon 
the fubfequent events of my life. 

My parents had given me betimes religious impreffi- 
ons ; and I received from my infancy a pious educa- 
tion in the principles of Calvanifm. But fcarcely was 
I arrived at fifteen years of age, when, after having 
doubted in turn of different tenets, according as I 
found them combated in the different books that I read, 
I began to doubt of revelation itfelf. Some volumes 
againft deifm fell into my hands. They were faid to 
be the fubftance of fermons preached at Boyle's Lecture. 
It happened that they produced on me an effect pre- 
cifely the reverfe of what was intended by the writers;- 
for the arguments of the deifts, which were cited in 
order to be refuted, appeared to me much more forci* 
ble than the refutation itfelf. In a word, I foon be-- 
came a perfect deift. My arguments perverted fome 
other young perfons ; particularly Collins and Ralph. 
But in the fequel, when I recollected that they had 
both ufed me extremely ill, without the fmalleft re* 

morfe : 



DR. FRANKLIN, 75 

morfe ;' when I confidered the behaviour of Keith* 
another freethinker, and my own conduct tow aids Ver- 
non and Mils Read, which at times gave me much 
uneatinefs, I was led to fufpeft that this doclrine^ 
though it might be trae, was not very aiefuk I be- 
gan to entertain a iefs favourable opinion of my Lon- 
don pamphlet, to which I had prefixed, as a n.cc:o 5 ths 
following lines of Dry den y 

Whatever is, is right ; tho' purblind man, 
Sees but part of the chain the neareit link. 
His eyes not carrying to the equal beam 
That poifes all above. 

and of which the objeel was to prove, from the attri- 
butes of God, his goodnefs, wiidom, and power, that 
there could be no fuch thing as evil in the world; that 
vice and virtue did not in reality exift and were no- 
thing more than vain diftincYions. I no longer re- 
garded it as lb blameleis a work as I had formerly ima- 
gined ; and I fufpected that fome error muft have im- 
perceptibly glided into my argument, as all the 
inferences I had dr\iwn from it had been affedled, as fre- 
quently happens, in metaphyfical reafonings. In a 
word, I was at laft convinced that truth, probity, and 
finccrity, in tranfactions between man and man, were 
of the utmoft importance to the happinefs of life : and 
I relblved from that moment, and wrote the refcluti- 
on in my journal, to praclife them as long as I lived. 
Revelation indeed, as fuch, had no influence en 
my mind ; but 1 was of opinion that, though certain 
actions could not be bad merely becaufe revelation pro- 
hibited them, or good becaufe it enjoined them, yet 
it was probable that thofe actions were p-ohibited be- 
caufe they were bad for us, or enjoined becaufe ad- 
vantageous in their nature, all things confidered. This 
perfusion, divine Providence, or fome guardian angel, 
and perhaps a concurrence of favourable circumfiances 
co-operating, preferved me from all immorality, or grofi 
and voluntary injuftice, to which my want of religion 

was 



;6 THE LITE 01 

calculated to expofe me, in the dangerous period ot 
youth and in the hazardous fituations in which I 
ibmetimes found myfelf, among Grangers, and at adif- 
taiice from the eye and admonitions of my father. I 
may fay voluntary) becaufe the errors into which I had 
fallen, had been i;«i a manner the forced refill t either of 
my own inexperience, or the difhonefty of others. 
Thus, before I entered on my new career, I had im- 
bibed iblid principles, and a chara&er of probity. I 
knew their value ; I made a folemn engagement with 
myfelf never to depart from them. 

I had not long returned from Burlington before our 
printing materials arrived from London. I fettled my 
accounts with Keimer, and quitted him, with his own 
confent, before he had any knowledge of our plan-. 
We found a houie to let near the market. We took 
it; and to render the rent le is burtbenfome (it was 
then twenty-four pounds a-year, but I have fmce 
known it to let for ieventy,) we admitted Thomas, 
Godfrey, a glazier, with his family, who eafed us of 
a confidefable part of it ; and with him. we agreed to 
board. 

We had no {boner unpacked our letter, and put our 
prefs in order, than a perion of my acquaintance,. 
George Houie, brought us a countryman, whom he 
had met in the ftreets enquiring for a printer. Our 
money was almoft exhauMed by the number of things 
we had been obliged to procure. The five (hillings 
we received from this countryman, the -fir ft fruit of our 
earnings, coming ib feafonably, gave me more plea- 
iiire than any fum I have fince gained ; and the recol- 
lection of the gratitude I felt on this occaiion to 
George Houie, has rendered me often more difpofcd, 
than perhaps I Ihould otherwife have been, to encour- 
age young beginners in trade. 

There are in every country morofe beings, who are 
always prognofticating ruin. There was one of this, 
ft amp in Philadelphia. He was a man of fortune, de- 
clined in years, had an air cf wiidum, and a ve:y grave 
manner cf fpeaking. His name was Samuel Mickle. 

I knew 



DR. FRANKLIN 77 

I knew him not ; but he flopped one day at my dooi> 
and afked me if I was the young man who had lately, 
fat up a new printing-houfe. Upon my anfwering in 
the affirmative, he faid that he was very ferry for me, 
as it was an expenfive undertaking, and the money 
that had been laid out upon it would be loft, Philadel- 
phia being a place falling into decay \ its inhabitants 
having all or nearly all of them, been obliged to call 
together their creditors. That he knew from un- 
doubted fact, the circumilanc.es which might lead us to 
fuppofe the contrary, fuch as new buildings and the 
advanced price of rent, to be deceitful appearances, 
which in reality contributed to haflen the general ruin f 
and he gave me fo long a detail 'of misfortunes, actually 
exiiling, or winch were foon to take place, that he left 
me almoft in a flate of defpair. Had I known this 
man before I entered into track* I mould doubtlefs ne- 
ver have ventured. He however continued to live ia 
this place of decay, and to declaim in the fame flyle, 
refuting for many years to buy a houfe, becaufe all 
'%^»o ° v >in rr tn ™i'eck : dSld. ill the ?F'd I fed £he fatis.- 
faction to fee him pay five times as much for one as it 
would cofl him had he pin chafed it w hen he firft began 
his lamentations. 

I ought to have related, that, during the autumn 
of the preceding year, I had united the majority of 
well-informed perfons of my acquaintance into a club 
which we called by the name of the Junto, and the 
object of which was to improve our underflandings. 
We met every Friday evening. The regulations I 
drew up, obliged every member to propofe, in his turn, 
one or morequeflions upon fomepoi-nt of molarity, po- 
litics, or philofophy, which were to be difcuffed by the 
fociety ; and to read once in three months, an effay 
of his own compofition, on whatever fubject he plea- 
fed. Our debates were under the direction of a prefi- 
dent, and were to be dictated only by a fincere defire 
of truth; the pleafure of difputing, and the vanity of 
triumph having no fhare in the bufine-fs ; and in order 
u> prevent undue warmth, every expreilion which im- 
plied 



?8 THE LIFE OF 

plied obftinate adherence to an opinion and all direct 
contradi&ion, were prohibited under fmall pecuniary 
penalties. 

The firfl members of our club were Jofeph Breint- 
»*l, whofe occupation was that of a fcrivener. He 
was a middle-aged man, of a good natural difpofnion 
itrongly attached to his friends, a great lover of poet- 
ry, reading every thing thatcame in his way, andwri- 
tmg tolerably well, ingenious in many little trifles, 
ana of an agreeable converfation. 

Thomas Godfrey, a lkilful, though felf-taught ma- 
thematician, and who was afterwards the inventor of 
what now goes by the name of Hadley's dial ; but he 
had little knowledge out of his own line, and was in- 
supportable in company, always requiring, like the 
majority of mathematicians that have fallen in my way r 
an unufual precifion in every thing that is faid, con- 
tinually contradidmg or making trifling diflw&iens ; 
a fu re way of defeating all the ends of converfation. 
He very foon left us. 

Nicholas Scull, a furveyor, and who became after- 
wards furveyor-general. He was fond of books, and 
wrote verfes. 

William Parfons brought up to the trade of a (hoe- 
maker, but who having a tafre for reading, had ac- 
quired a profound knowledge of mathematics. He 
firft fludied them with a view to aftrologv, and was 
afterwards the firft to laugh at his folly. He alfo be- 
came furveyor-general. 

William Mawgridge, a joiner, and a very excellent 
mechanic; and in other refpe&s a man of folid under- 
ftandiner. 



Hugh Meredith, Stephen Potts, and George Webb, 
of whom I have already fp-ken. 

Robert Grace a young man of fortune ; generous, 
animated and witty ; fond of epigrams, but more fond 
ot his friends. 

And ladly, William Coleman, at that time a mer- 
chant's clerk, and nearly of my own age. He had a 
cooler and clearer head, a better heart, and more fcru- 

puious 



DR. FRAKKL IX. 79 

pulous morals, than almoft any other perfon I ha\e 
ever met with. He became a very refpe&able mei- 
chant, and one of our provincial judges. Our friend- 
ihip iubfifted, without interruption, for more than for- 
ty years, till the period of his death ; and the club 
.continued to exift almofl as long. 

This was the beft fchool of politics and philofophy 
that then exifted in the province ; for our cjueflions, 
which were read a week previous to their diicuflion, 
induced us to perufe attentively fuch books as were writ- 
ten upon the iubje&s propofed, that we might be able 
to fpeak upon them more pertinently. We thus ac- 
quired the habit of converting more agreeably ; every 
object being difcufied conformably to our regulations, 
and in a manner to prevent mutual dilgufl. To this 
circumitance may be attributed the long duration of 
,the club ; which I (hall have frequent occalion to men- 
tion as I proceed. 

I have introduced it here, as being one of the means 
on which I had to count for fuccefs in my bufmefs ; 
every member exerting himfelfto procure work for us. 
Breintnal among others, obtained for us, on the part 
of the Quakers, the punting of forty (beets of their 
hiftory ; of which the reft was to be done by Keimer. 
.Our execution of this work was by no means mafterly j 
as the price was very low. It was in folio, upon pro 
patria paper, and in the pica letter, with heavy notes 
in the f mailed type. I compofed a fneet a day, and 
.Meredith put it to the prefs. It was frequently eleven 
o'clock at night fometimes later, before 1 had finiihed 
my dinYibution for the next day's talk ; for the little 
things which our friends occasionally lent us, kept us 
back in this work : but I was fo determined to coro- 
pofe a lheet a day, that one evening, when my form 
was impofed, and my day's work, as I thought, at an 
end, an accident having broken this form, and de- 
. ranged two complete folia page?, I immediately dif- 
tributedj and compofed them anew before I went to 
.bed. 

This 



So tHE LIFE OP 

This unwearied induftry, which was perceived by 
our neighbours, began to acquire us reputation and cre- 
dit. I learned among other things, that our new print- 
ing-houfe being the fubjeel of conversation at a club 
of merchants, who met every evening, it was the ge- 
neral opinion that it would fail ; there being already 
two printing-houfes in the town, Keimer's and Brad- 
ford's* But Dr. Bard, whom you and 1 had occallon 
to fee, many years after, at his native town of St* 
Andrews in Scotland, was of a different opinion, "The 
induftry of this Franklin (faid he) is iupenor to any 
thing of the kind I have ever witnelfed. I fee him (till 
at work when I return from the club at night, and he 
is at it again in the morning before his neighbours are 
out of bed." This account {truck the reft of the af- 
fembly, and (hortly after one of its members came to 
our houfe, and offered to fupply us with articles of 
(btionary ; but we wifhed not as yet to embarrafs our- 
felves with keeping a ihop. It is not for the fake of 
applaufe that 1 enter lb freely into the particulars of 
my induftry, but that fucli of my descendants as ihali 
read thefe memoirs may know the ule cf this virtue, 
by feeing in the recital of my 4ife the effects it opera- 
ted in my favour. 

George Webb, having found a friend who lent him 
the necelfary turn to buy out his time of Keimer, came 
one day to offer himfelf to us as a journeyman. We 
could not employ him immediately ; but I fooliihly 
told him, under the role, that I intended fhortly to 
publiPi a new periodical paper, and that we mould then 
have work for him. My hopes of fuccefs, which I 
imparted to him, were founded on the circumftance, 
that the only paper we had in Philadelphia at that time, 
and which Bradford printed, was a paltry thing, mi- 
ferably conducted, in no refpeel a muling, and which 
yet was profitable. 1 confequently iuppofed that a 
good work of this kind could not fail of fuccefs. Webb 
betrayed my fecret to Keimer, who, to prevent me, 
immediately publifhed tbe prospectus of a paper that he 
intended to inftitute himfelf, and in which Webb was 
•to be engaged. 

I was 



DR. FRANKLIN. 8l 

I was exafperated at this proceeding, and., -with a 
view to counteract them, not being able at prefent to 
i nftitute my own paper, I wrote fome humorous pieces m 
•Bradford's, under the title of the Bufy Body ;* and 
which was continued for feveral months by Breintnal. 
I hereby fixed the attention of the public upon Brad- 
ford's paper, and the prospectus of Keimer, which we 
turned into ridicule, was treated with contempt. He 
began notwithstanding, his paper; and after continu- 
ing it for nine months, having at moil not more than 
ninety fubfcribers, he offered it to me for a mere tri- 
fle. I had for fome time been ready for fuch an en- 
gagement ; I therefore inftantly took it upon myfelf, 
and in a few years it proved extremely profitable to 
me. 

I perceive that I am apt to fpeak in the firft perfon, 
though our partnership (till continued. It is perhaps, 
becaule in fact, the whole bufinefs devolved upon me. 
Meredith was no compoiitor, and but an indifferent 
preiTman : and it was rarely that he abftained from 
ha id drinking. My friends were lorry to fee me con- 
nected with him ; but I contrived to derive from it 
the utmoft advantage the cafe admitted. 

Our firft number produced no other effect than any 
other paper which had appeared in the province, as to 
type and printing ; but fome remarks, in my peculiar 
ttyle of writing, upon the difpute which then prevailed 
between governor Burnet, and the MalTachutetts af- 
lembly, (truck fome peribns as above mediocrity, 
cauied the paper and its editors to be talked of, and 
in a few weeks induced them to become our fubfcri- 
bers. Many others followed their example; and our 
fubfcription continued to increafe. This was one of 
the firlt good effeds of the pains I had taken to learn 

to 



* A manuscript note in the file of the American Mer* 
cury, preserved in the Philadelphia library, says, that 
Fran/din wrote the first Jive numbers and part of the 
eighth. 

G 



82 THE LIFE OF 

to put iry ideas on paper. I derived this farther advan- 
tage from .t, thatihe leading men pf the place, feeing 
in the author of this publication^ man fo well able to 
life his pen, thought it right to patronife and encou- 
rage me. 

The votes, laws and other public pieces, were print- 
ed by Bradford. An addrefs of the houfe of affcmbly 
to the governor, had been executed by him in a very 
coarfe and incorrect manner. We reprinted it with 
accuracy and neatnefs, and lent a copy to every mem- 
ber. They perceived the difference ; and it fo 
flrengthened the influence of our friends in the af- 
fembly, that we were nominated its printer for the fol- 
lowing year. 

Among thefe friends I ought not to forget one mem- 
ber in particular Mr. Hamilton, whom I have men- 
tioned in a former part of my narrative, and who was 
now returned from England. He warmly interefted 
himfelf for me on this occafion, as he did likewife on 
many others afterwards; having continued his kindneis 
to me till his death. 

About this period Mr. Vernon reminded me of the 
debt I owed him, but without prefting me for pay- 
ment. I wrote him a handfome letter on the occafi- 
on, begging him to wait a little longer, to which lie 
confented and as foon as I was able, I paid him, prin- 
cipal and in te re ft, with many expreflions of gratitude ; 
fo that this error of my life was in a manner atoned 
for. 

But another trouble now happened to me, which I 
had not the fmalleft reafon to expect. Meredith's fa- 
ther, who, according to our agreement, was to defray 
the whole expence of our printing materials, had only 
paid a hundred pounds. Another hundred was fiill 
due, and the merchant being tired of waiting, com- 
menced a fuit againft us. We bailed the action, but 
with the melancholy profpect, that, if the money was 
not forthcoming at the time fixed, the affair would 
come to iflue, judgment be put in execution, our de- 
lightful hopes be annihilated, and ourfelves entirely ruin- 
ed : 



DR, FRANKLIN. 83 

ed ; as the type and prefs muft be fold, perhaps at 
half their value, to pay the debt. 

In this diftrefs, two real friends, -. whofe generous 
conduct I have never forgotten, and never (hall forget 
while I retain the remembrance of any thing, came to 
me feparately, without the knowledge of each other, 
and without my having applied to them. Each offered 
me whatever fum might be necevTary to take the buii- 
nefs into my own hands, if the thing was practicable, 
as they did not like I (hould continue in partnerfhip 
with Meredith, who, they faid, was frequently feen 
drunk in the flreets, and gambling at'ale-houfes, which 
very much injured our credit. Thele friends were 
William Coleman and Robert Grace. 1 told them 
that while there remained any probability that the 
Merediths would fulfil their part of the compact, I could 
not propofe a reparation ; as I conceived rnyielf to be 
under obligations to them for what they had done al- 
ready, and were (till difpofed to do if they had the 
power : but in the end (hould they fail in their en- 
gagement, and our partnerfhip be difiolved, I f hould 
then think myfelf at liberty to accept the kindnefs of 
ray friends. 

Things remained for feme time in this ftate. At 
hfl I faid one day to my partner, " your father is per- 
haps diffatisfied with your having a (hare only in the 
bufinefs, and is unwilling to do for two, what he would 
do for you alone. Tell me frankly if that be the cafe, 
and I will refign the whole to you, and do for myfelf 
as well as I can." — " No (faid he) my father has real- 
ly been difappointed in his hopes ; he is not able to pay, 
and I wifh to put him to no further inconvenience. I 
fee that I am not at all calculated for a printer ; I 
was educated as a farmer, and it was abfurd in me to 
come here, at thirty years of age, and bind myfelf ap- 
prentice to a new trade. Many of my countrymen 
are going to fettle in North-Carolina, where the foil 
is exceedingly favourable. I am tempted to go with 
them, and to refume my former occupation. You will 
doubdefs find friends who will- affift you. If you will 

take 



84 THE LIFE OF 

take upon yourfelf the debts of the partnerfhip, return 
my father the hundred pounds he has advanced, pay 
my little perfonal debts, and give me thirty pounds 
and a new faddle, I will renounce the partnerfhip, and 
confign over the whole flock to you." 

I accepted this propofal without hefi cation. It was 
committed to paper, and figned and fealed without de- 
lay. I gave him what he demanded, and he departed 
ibon after for Carolina, from whence he fent me, in 
the following year, two long letters, containing the 
beft accounts that had yet been given of that country* 
2s to climate, foil, agriculture, &c. for he was w«ll 
verfed in thefe matters. I ptiblifhed them in my 
newfpaper, and they were received with great fatis- 
faclion. 

As foon as he was gone I applied to my two friends, 
and not wifhing to give a difobliging preference to ei- 
ther of them, I accepted from each half what he had 
offered me, and which it was neceflary I would have. 
I paid the partnerfhip debts, and continued the bufinefs 
on my own account; taking care to inform the public, 
by advertifement, of the partnerfhip being diflblved. 
This was, I think, in the year 1729, or thereabout. 

Nearly at the fame period the people demanded 2^ 
new emiffion Cf ^r/moiiey: tne exiltmg and only 
one that had taken place in the province, and which 
amounted to fifteen thoufand pounds, being foon to ex- 
pire. The wealthy inhabitants, prejudiced againft eve- 
iv fort of paper currency, from the fear of its depre- 
ciation, of which there had been an inftance in the 
province of New-England, to the injury of its holders, 
i ,ongly eppofed the meal u re. We had dii cuffed this 
affair in our junto, in which I was on the fide of the 
new emiflion ; convinced that the fir ft (mall fum, fa- 
bricated in 1723, had done much good in the province, 
by favouring commerce, induftry and population, fince 
all the houfes were now inhabited, and many others 
building ; whereas 1 remembered to have feen, when 
iirft I paraded the ftreets of Philadelphia eating my roll, 
the majority of thofe in Walnut-ftreet, Second-ftreet, 

Fourth 



DR. FRANKLIN. 8j 

Fourth-ftreet, as well as a great number in Chefnut 
and other ftreets, with papers on thern fignifying that 
they were to be let; which made me think at the time 
that the inhabitants of the town were defeating it one 
after another. 

Our debates made me fo fully matter of the fubjecl, 
that I wrote and publiihed an anonymous pamphlet, 
entitled An Enquiry into the Nature and necefllty of 
a Paper Currency. It was very well received by the 
lower and middling clafs of people ; but it difpleafed 
the opulent, as it increased the clamour in favour of 
the new cmiffion. Having, however, no writer among 
them capable of anfwering it; their oppofition became 
lefs violent ; and there being in the houfe of affembly 
a majority for the meafure, it palTecl. The friends I 
had acquired in the houfe, perfuaded that I had done 
the country effential ferve on this occafion, rewarded 
me by giving me the printing of the bills. It was a 
lucrative employment, and proved a very feafonable 
help to me ; another advantage which I derived from 
having habituated myfelf to write. 

Time and experience fo fully demonftrated the uti- 
lity of paper currency, that it never after experienced 
any conliderable oppodtion ; fo that it foon amounted 
to 55, oool. and in the year 1739 t0 8o,oool. It has 
fince vifen, during the laft war, to 350,000!. trade, 
buildings and population having in the interval conti- 
nually increafed ; but I am now convinced that there 
are limits, beyond which, paper money would be pre- 
judicial. 

I foon after obtained, by the influence of my friend 
Hamilton, the printing of the Newcaftle paper money, 
another profitable work, as I then thought it, little 
things appearing great to perfons of moderate fortune ; 
and they were really great to me, as proving great en- 
couragements. He alfo procured me the printing of 
the laws and votes of that government which I retain- 
ed as long as I continued in the bufinefs. 

I now opened a fmall ftatiouer's (bop, I kept bonds 
'and agreements of all kinds, drawn up in a more accu- 
rate 
G a 



86 THE LIFE OF 

rate form than had yet been feen in that part of the 
world : a work in which I was affiHed by my friend 
Brientnal. I had alio paper, parchment, paiteboard, 
books, Sec. One Whitemafh, an excellent compolitor, 
whom I had known in London, came to offer himfelf. 
I engaged him, and he continued conftantly and dili- 
gently to work with me. I alfo took an apprentice, 
the ion of Aquila Rofe. 

I began to pay, by degrees, the debt I had contract- 
ed ; and in order to infure my credit and character as 
a tradefman, I took care not only to be really induf- 
trious and frugal, but alfo to avoid every appearance 
of the contrary. I was plainly dreffed, and never feen 
in any place of public amufement. I never went a 
iifhing or hunting: A book indeed inticed me feme- 
times from my work, but it was feldom, by Health, and 
occafioned no fcandal ; and to fhow that I did not 
think myfelf above my profeffion, I conveyed home 
fometimes in a wheelbarrow the paper I purchased at 
the warehoufes. 

I thus obtained the reputation of being an induf- 
trious young man, and very punctual in his payments. 
The merchants who imported articles of ftationary, fo- 
licited my cuftom ; others offered to furnifh me with 
books, and my little trade went on profperouily. 

Meanwhile the credit and bufinefs of Keimer dimi- 
uifhed every day, he was at lall forced to fell his ftock 
to fatisfy his creditors ; and he betook himfelf to Bar- 
badoes, where he lived for fome time in a very impo- 
verifhed {late. His apprentice, David Harry, whom 
I had inftrudted while I worked with Keimer, having 
bought his materials, fucceeded him in the bufinefs. I 
was apprehenfive, at firft, of finding in Harry a power- 
ful competitor, as he was allied to an opulent and re- 
fpectable family ; I therefore propofed a partnership, 
which, happily for me, he rejedled with difdain. He 
was extremely proud, thought himfelf a fine gentle- 
man, lived extravagantly, and puriued amufements 
which fuffered him to be fcarcely ever at home ; of 
conference he became in debt, neglected his bufinefs, 

and 



DK, F R A X K L I N. 87 

and bufinefs neglected him. Finding in a (host time 
nothing to do in the country, he followed Keicner ta> 
Barbadoes, carrying his printing materials with him. 
There the apprentice employed his old mailer as a 
journeyman. They were continually quarrelling ; and 
Harry ftill getting in debt, was obliged at lalt to fell 
his pre is and types, and return to his old occupation 
of hufbandry in Pennfylvania. The perfon who pur- 
chafed them, employed Keimer to manage the bufi- 
nefs ; but he died a few years after. 

I had now at Philadelphia no competitor but Brad- 
ford, who, being in eafy circumftances, did not engage 
in the printing of books, except now and then as work- 
men chanced to offer themfelves ; and was not anxious 
to extend his trade. He had, however, one advan- 
tage over me, as he had the direction of the poll-office, 
and was of coniequence fuppofed to have better oppor- 
tunities of obtaining news. His paper was alfo fup- 
pofed to be more advantageous to advertifing* cuftom- 
ers ; and in confequence of that fuppofitian, his adver- 
tifements were much more numerous than mine : this 
was a fource of great profit to him, and difadvantage- 
ous to me. It was to no purpofe that I really procur- 
ed other papers, and diflributed Sly own, by means of 
the pofl ; the public took for granted my inability in 
this refpedl ; and I was indeed unable to conquer it in 
any other mode than by bribing the poft-boys, who 
ierved me only by Health, Bradford being fo illiberal 
as to forbid them. — This treatment of his excited my 
refentment ; and my difguft was fo rooted, that, when 
I afterwards fucceeded him in the poll-office, I took 
care to avoid copying his example. 

I had hitherto continued to board with Godfrey, 
who, with his wife and children, occupied part of my 
houfe, and half of the fhop for his bufinefs 5 at which 
indeed he worked very little, being always abforbed by 
mathematics. Mrs. Godfrey formed a wifh of marry- 
ing me to the daughter of one of her relations. She 
contrived various opportunities of bringing us together, 
till flie faw that I was captivated 3 which was not dif- 
ficulty 



88 THE LIFE F 

ficult, the lady in queftion poffe fling great peri 
merit. The parents encouraged my addreffes, by in- 
viting me continually to tapper, and leaving us toge- 
ther, till at laft it was time to come to an explanation. 
Mrs. Godfrey undertook to negotiate our little treaty. 
I gave her to understand, that I expected to receive 
with the young lady a fum oi money that would ena- 
ble me at leaft to difcharge the remainder of my debt' 
for my printing materials. It was then, 1 believe, 
not more than a hundred pounds. She brought me 
for anlvver, that they bad no inch fum at their difpolal. 
I obfervedthat it might eafily be obtained, by a mort- 
gage on their houfe. The reply of this was, after a 
few days interval, that they did not approve of the 
match ; that they had coniulted Bradford, and found 
that the bufmefs of a printer was not lucrative ; that 
my letters would foon be worn out, and mud be fup- 
plied by new ones; that Keimer and Harry had failed, 
and that, probably, I fliould do fo too. Accordingly 
they forbade me the .houfe, and the young lady was 
confined; I know not if they had really changed their 
minds, or if it was merely an artifice, fuppofing our af- 
fections to be too ^ar engaged for us to defift, and 
that wefhould contrive to many fecretly, which would 
leave them at liberty to give or not as they pleafed. 
But, fufpectiug this motive, I never went again to 
their houfe. 

Some time after Mrs. Godfrey informed me that 
they were favourably difpofed towards me, and wifhed 
me to renew 7 the acquaintance ; but 1 declared a firm 
refolution never to have any thing more to do with the 
family. The Godfrey's exprefled feme rcfentiwent at 
this ; and as we could no longer agree, they changed 
their reiidence, leaving me in poiTeffion of the whole 
houfe. I then refolved to take no more lodgers. This 
affair having turned my thoughts to marriage, I look- 
ed around me, and made overtures of alliance in other 
quarters; but I foon found that the profeffion of a 
printer being generally looked upon as a poor trade, I 
could expert no money with a wife, at leait if I wish- 
ed 



I) R. FRANKLIN, 89 

ed her to poftefs any other charm. Meanwhile, that 
paflion of youth, fo difficult to govern, had often drawn 
me into intrigues with defpicable women, who fell in 
my way ; which were not unaccompanied with ex- 
pence and inconvenience, befides the perpetual rifk of 
injuring my health, and catching a difeafe which I 
dreaded above all things. But I was fortunate enough 
to efcape this danger. 

As a neighbour and old acquaintance, I kept up a 
friendly intimacy with the family of Mils Read. Her 
parents had retained an affection for me from the time 
of my lodging in their houfe. I was often invited 
thither ; they confulted me about their affairs, and I 
had been fometimes ferviceable to them. I was touch- 
ed with the unhappy fituation of their daughter, who 
was almoft always melancholy, and continually feeking 
folitude. I regarded my forgetful nefs and inconftancy, 
during my abode in London, as the principal caufe of 
her misfortune ; though her mother had the candour 
to attribute the fault to herfelf, rather than to me, be- 
caufe, after having prevented our marriage previous to 
my abfence, (he had induced her to marry another in 
my abfence. 

*»&. ,w».vca; Out tfcfffc fXtttCt! 

great obftacles to our union. Her marriage was con- 
fidered, indeed, as not being valid, the man having, it 
was faid, a former wife dill living in England ; but 
of this it was difficult to obtain a proof at fo great a > 
diftance ; and though a report prevailed of his being 
dead, yet we had no certainty of it ; and fuppofing it 
to be true, he had left many debts, for the payment of 
which his fucceffbr might be fued. We ventured ne- 
verthelefs, in ipite of all thefe difficulties, and I mar- 
ried her on the firft of September 1730. None of the 
inconveniences we had feared happened to us — She 
proved to me a good and faithful companion, and con- 
tributed eflentially to the fuccefs of my (hop. We 
profpered together, and it was our mutual ftudy to 
render each other happy. Thus I corrected, as well 
as I coulJj this great error of my youth. 

Our 



90 THE LIFE OF 

Our club was not at that time eftahlifhed at a 
tavern. We held "our meetings at the houfe of Mr. 
Grace, who appropriated a room to the purpofe. Some 
member obferved one day, that as our books were fre- 
quently quoted in the courfe of our difcuflions, it 
would be convenient to have them collected in the 
room in which we attembled, in order to be confultcd 
upon occaiion ; and that, by thus forming a common 
library of our individual collections, each would have 
the advantage of uung the books of all the other mem- 
bers, which would nearly be the fame as if he poflelTed 
them all bimfeif. The idea was approved, and we ac- 
cordingly brought fuch books as we thought we could 
fpare, which were placed at the end of the club -room. 
They amounted not to fo many as we expected ; and 
though we made considerable ufe of them, yet fome 
inconveuiencies refulting, from want of care, it was 
agreed, after about a year, to deitroy the collection ; 
and each took away fuch books as belonged to him. 

It was now that I fir ft dated the idea of eftabliTh- 
ing, by fubfcription, a public library. 1 drew up the 
propofals, had them ingrofled in form by Brockden the 
attorney, and my project Succeeded, as will be feen in 
the fequel ************** 



[The life of Dr. Franklin, as written by himfelf, fo 
far as it has been communicated to the world* breaks 
oiF in this place. We underftand that it was conti- 
nued by him fomewhat further, and we hope that the 
remainder will, at fome future period, be communica- 
ted to the public. We have no hefitation in fuppo- 
fing that every reader will find himfelf greatly intereft- 
ed by the frank fimplicity and the philoibphical dis- 
cernment by which thefe pages are fo eminently cha- 
racterised. We have therefore thought proper, in 
order as much as poflible to relieve his regret, to Sub- 
join the following continuation, by one of the doclor's 
intimate friends. It is extracted from an American 



B R. FR A N K L I X. 91 

periodical publication, and was written by the late Dr. 
.Stuber* of Philadelphia,] 



THE promotion of literature had been little at- 
tended to in Pennfylvania. Moft of the inhabi- 
tants were too much immerfed in bufinefs to think of 
fcientific periuils ; and thofe few, whofe inclinations 
led them to lludy, found it difficult to gratify them, 
from the want of fufficiently large libraries. In fuch 
circumdances, the eftabli foment of a public library was 
.an important event. This was firfl let on foot by 

Franklin, 



* Dr. Stuber was born in Philadelphia, of German 
parents. He was sent, at an early age, to the universi- 
ty, where his genius, diligence, and amiable temper soon 
acquired him the particular notice and favour of those 
under whose immediate direction he was placed. Af- 
ter passing through the common course of study, in a 
much shorter time than usual, he left the university, at 
the age of sixteen, with great reputation. Not long 
after, be entered on the study of Physic ; and the zeal 
with which he pursued it, and the advances he made, 
gave his friends reason to form the most fatter ing pros- 
pects of his future eminence and usefulness in the pro- 
fession. As Dr. Stuber 1 s circumstances were very mo- 
derate, he did not think this pursuit well calculated to 
answer them. He therefore relinquished it, after he 
had obtained a degree in the profession, and qualified 
himself to practise with credit and success ; and im- 
mediately entered on the study of Law. In pursuit of 
the last mentioned object, he was prematurely arrested, 
before he had an opportunity of reaping the fruit of those 
talents with which he was. endowed, and of a youth spent 
in the ardent and successful pursuit of useful and ele- 
gant literature. 



92 THE LIFE Of 

Franklin, about the year 1731. Fifty perfons Tub- 
imbed forty (hillings each, and agreed to pay ten 
ihillings annually. The number increaled ; and in 
1742, the company was incorporated by the name of 
4k The Library Company of Philadelphia." Several 
other companies were formed in this city in imitation 
of it. Thefe were all at length united with the li- 
brary company of Philadelphia, which thus received a 
confiderable acceflion of books and property. It now 
contains about eight thoufand volumes on all fubjects, 
a philolbphical apparatus, and a good beginning to- 
wards a collection of natural and artificial curioiities, 
belides landed property of confiderable value. The 
company have lately built an elegant houle in Fifth- 
ftreet, in the front of which will be ere&ed a marble 
Itatue of their founder, Benjamin Franklin. 

This inltitution was greatly encouraged by the friends 
of literature in America and in Great Britain. The 
Penn family dillinguifhed themfelves by their donati- 
ons. Amongft the earlieft friends of this inftitution 
ttiuft be mentioned the late Peter Goliinfon, the friend 
andconeipondent of Dr. Franklin. He not only made 
confiderable prefents himieif, and obtained others from 
his friends, but voluntarily undercook to manage the 
hulineis of the company in London, recommending 
books, purchaling and [hipping them. His exteniive 
knowledge, and zeal for the promotion of fcience, ena- 
bled him to execute this important truft with the 
greateft advantage. Pie continued to perform thefe 
iervices for more than thirty years, and uniformly re- 
fufed to accept of any compeniation. During this 
time, he communicated to the directors every informa- 
tion relative to improvements and difcoveries in the 
arts, agricuiuue, and philoibphy. 

The beneficial influence of this inilitution was foon 
evident. The cheapneis of terms rendered it acceflible 
to every one. Its advantages were not confined to 
the opulent. The citizens in the middle and lower 
walks of life were equally partakers of them. Hence 
a degree of information was extended amongft all dall- 
es 



DR, FRANKLIN. 93 

es of people, which is very unufual in other places. 
The example was loon followed. Libraries were efta- 
bUfhed in various places, and they are now become 
very numerous in the United States, and particularly 
in Pennfylvania. It is to be hoped that they will be 
flill more widely extended, and that information will 
be every where increafed. This will be the beft fecu- 
rity for maintaining our -liberties. A nation of well- 
informed men, who have been taught to know and 
prize the rights which God has given them, cannot be 
enflaved. It is in the regions of ignorance that ty- 
ranny reigns. It flies before the light of fcience. Let 
the citizens of America, then, encourage inftitutions 
calculated to difFufe knowledge amongft the people ; 
and amongil thefe, public libraries are not the lead 
important. 

In 1732, Franklin began to publim Poor Richard's 

Almanack. This was remarkable for the numerous 

and valuable conciie maxims which it contained, all 

tending to exhort to induftry and frugality. It was 

continued for many years. In the almanack for the 

laft year, all the maxims were collected in an addrefs 

to the reader, entitled, The Way to Wealth. This 

has been tranflated in various languages, and inferted 

in different publications. It has alio been printed on 

a large fheet, and mav be feen framed in many houfes 

in this city. This addrefs contains, perhaps the bed 

practical fyftem of ceconomy that ever has appeared. 

It is written in a manner intelligible to every one, 

and which cannot fail of convincing every reader of the 

juftice and propriety of the remarks and advice which 

it contains. The demand for this almanack was fo great, 

that ten thoufand have been fold in one year ; which 

muft be confidered as a very large number^ efpecially 

when we reflect, that this country was, at that time, 

but thinly peopled. It cannot be doubted that the fa- 

lutary maxims contained in thefe almanacks muft have 

made a favourable impreffion upon many of the readers 

of them. 

It 

H 



94 THE LIFE OF 

It was not long before Franklin entered upon his 
polkical career. In the year 1736 he was appointed 
clerk to the general affernbly of Pennfylvania ; and 
was re-elecled by iucceeding affemblies for feveral 
years, until he was chofen a reprefentative for the city 
of Philadelphia. 

Bradford was poffeiTed of fome advantages over 
Franklin, by being poft-mafter, thereby having an op- 
portunity of circulating his paper more exteniively, 
and thus rendering it a better vehicle for advertife- 
rnents, &c. Franklin,- in his turn, enjoyed thefe ad- 
vantages, by being appointed poft-mafter of Philadel- 
phia in 1737. Bradford, wh le in office, had a&ed 
ungenerouily towards Franklin, preventing as much as 
poffible the circulation of his paper* He had now an 
opportunity of retaliating ; but his nobleneis of foul 
preventing him from making ufe of it. 

The police of Philadelphia had early appointed 
watchmen, whofe duty it was to guard the citizens 
againft the midnight robber, and to give an immedi- 
ate alarm in cafe of fire. This duty is, perhaps, one 
of the moft important that can be committed to any fet 
of men. The regulations, however, were not fuffi- 
ciently ftricl:. Franklin faw the dangers anting from 
this caufe, and fuggefted an alteration, fo as to o- 
blige the guardians of the night to be more watchful 
over the lives and property of the citizens. The pro- 
priety of this was immediately perceived, and a reform 
was effected. 

There is nothing more dangerous to growing cities 
than fires. Other caufes operate ilowly, and almoft 
imperceptibly, but thefe in a moment render abortive 
the labours of ages. On this account there fhould be, 
in all cities, ample provifions to prevent fires from 
fpreading. Franklin early faw the neceffity of thefe ; 
and, about the year 1738, formed the firft fire-com- 
pany in this city. This example was foon followed by 
others ; and there are now numerous fire companies in 
the city and liberties. To thefe may be attributed ia 
a great degree the activity in extinguifhing fires, for 

which 



DR. FRANKLIN. 95 

which the citizens of Philadelphia are diftinguifhed, and 
the inconfiderable damage which this city has fuftained 
from this caufe. — Some time after, Franklin fuggeft- 
ed the plan of an affociation for injuring houfes from 
lofles by fire, which was adopted ; and the aiTociation 
continues to this day. The advantages experienced 
from it have been great. 

From the firft eftablifhment of Pennfylvania, a fpirit 
of difpute appears to have prevailed amongft its inha- 
bitants. During the life-time of William Penn the con- 
{titution had been three times altered. After this pe- 
riod, the hiftory of Pennsylvania is little elfe than a re- 
cital of the quarrels between the proprietaries, or their 
governors, and the aiTenibly. The proprietaries con- 
tended for the right of exempting their land from 
taxes; Yo which the afl&j&bly would by no means con- 
fent. This fubject of dilpute interfered In aimed every 
que (lion, and prevented ihe mqft falutary laws from 
being enacted. This at Times fubjecled the people to 
great inconveniences. In the year 1744, during a war 
between France and Great Britain, foroe French and 
Indians had made inroads upon the frontier inhabitants 
of the province, who were unprovided for fuch an at- 
tack. It became neceffary that the citizens fhould 
arm for their defence. Governor Thomas recommend- 
ed to the affembly, who were then fitting to pals a 
militia law. To this they would agree only upon con- 
dition that he fliould give his aflent to certain lawn, 
which appeared to them calculated to promote the fil- 
tered of the people. As he thought thefe laws would 
be injurious to the proprietaries, he refufed his aflent 
to them ; and the affembly broke up without pairing a 
militia law. The fituation of the province was at this 
time truly alarming : expofed to the continual inroads 
of an enemy, and detlitute of every means of defence. 
At this crifis Franklin ftepped forth, and propofed to 
a meeting of the citizens of Philadelphia, a plan of a 
voluntary aiTociation for the defence of the province. 
This was approved of, and figned by twelve hundred 
perfcr.s immediately. Copies of it were circulated 

throughout 



96 



THE LIFE OF 



throughout the province ; and in a fhort time the num- 
ber of iigners amounted to ten thoufand. Franklin 
was choien colonel of the Philadelphia regiment ; but 
did not think proper to accept of the honour. 

Purfuits of a different nature now occupied the great - 
eft part of his attention for fome years. He engaged 
in a courfe of electrical experiments, with all the ar- 
dor and third for difcovery which characterized the phi- 
lofophers of that day. Of all the branches of experi- 
mental philofophy, electricity had been lead explored. 
The elective power of amber is mentioned by Theo- 
phraftus and Pliny, and, from them by later naturalifts. 
In the year 1600, Gilbert, an Englifh phyfician, en- 
larged confiderably the catalogue of fubftances which 
have the property of attracting light bodies. Boyle, 
Otto Gueiicke, a burgom after of Magdeburg b, cele- 
brated as the inventor of the air pump, Dr. Wall, and 
Sir Ifaac Newton added fome facts; Guericke firft ob- 
served the repulfive power of electricity, and the light 
and noiie produced by it. 

In 1709, Hawkefbcc communicated fome important 
cbfervations and experiments to the world. For feve- 
ral years electricity was entirely neglected, until Mr. 
Gray applied himielf to it, in 1728, with great aflidui- 
ty. He and his friend Mr. Wheeler, made a great 
variety of experiments ; in which they demonftrated, 
that electricity may be communicated from one bedy 
to another, even wiihout being in contact, and in this 
may be conducted to a great diftance. Mr. Gray 
afterwards found, that by fufpending rods of iron by 
or hair lines, and bringing an excited tube under 
them, (parks might be drawn, and a light perceived at 
the extiemjties in the dark. M-. Du Faye, intendant 
of the French king's gardens, made a number of expe- 
riments, which added not a little to the fcience. He 
made the difcovery of two kinds of electricity, which 
he called vitreous and resinous ; the former produced by 
rubbing glais, the latter from excited fulphur, iealing 
wax, Sec. But this idea he afterwards gave up as er- 
roneous. Between the years 1739 and 1742, Defagu- 

Fiers 



DR. FRANKLIN. 97 

Hers made a number of experiments, but added little 
of importance. He firft ufed the terms conductors and 
electrics, per se. In 1742, feveral ingenious Germans- 
engaged in this fubject. Of thefe the principal were, 
profelfor Boze of Whittemberg, profeffor Winkler of 
Leipfic, Gordon, a Scotch Benedictine monk, profefTor 
of philoibphy at Erfurt, and &>;. Ludolf of Berlin. The 
refult of their refearches aftoniihed the ohilofophers of 
Earope. Their apparatus was large, and by means 
of it they were enabled to collect large quantities of 
electricity, and thus to produce phenomena which had 
been hitherto unobferved. They killed final I birds, 
and fet fpirits on fire. Their experiments excited 
the curiofity of other philofophers. Collinfon about 
the year 1745) fent to the library company of Phila- 
delphia an account of thefe experiments, together with 
a tube, and. directions how to ufe it. Franklin, with 
fome of his friends, immediately engaged in a courfe 
of experiments ; the refult of which is well known. 
He was enabled to make a number of important difco- 
veries, and to propoie theories to account for various 
phenomena ; which have been univerfally adopted, and 
which bid fair to endure for ages. His obiervations 
he communicated, in a feries of letters, to his friend 
Collinlbn ; the firft of which is dated March 28th> 
1747. In thefe he makes known the power of points 
in drawing and throwing off the electrical matter, 
which had hitherto efcaped the notice of electricians. 
He alfo made the grand difcovery of a phis and minus^ 
or of a positive and negative (tate of electricity. We 
give him the honour of tins, without hefitation ; al- 
though che Engl i in have claimed it for their country- 
man Dr. Watfoii. Watfon's paper is dated January 
2-1, 174S } Franklin's July 11, 1747 ; feveral months 
prior. Shortly after, Franklin, from his principles of 
plus and minus ftace, explained, in a fatisfactory man- 
ner, the phenomena of the Leyden phial, firft obferved 
by Mr. Ckineas, or by profeiTor Mufchenbfoeck of 
Leyden, which had much perplexed philofophers. He 
fhewed cl. .:Ie, when charged, contain- 

ed 
[ z 



98 THE LIFE OF 

ed no more electricity than before, but that as much 
was taken from the one fide as was thrown on the other; 
and that, to difcharge it nothing was neceffary but to 
make a communication between the two fides, by which 
the equilibrium might be reiiored, and that then no 
iigns of electricity would remain. 

He afterwards demunftrated, by experiments, that the 
electricity did not refide in the coating, as had been 
fuppofed, but in the pores of the glafs itfelf. After a 
phial was charged, he removed the coating, and found 
that upon applying a new coating the fhock might ft ill 
be received. In the year 1749, he firft fuggefted his 
idea of explaining the phenomena of thunder-gufts, and 
of the aurora borealis, upon electrical principles* He 
points out many particulars in which lightning and 
electricity agree ; and he adduces many fads, and rea- 
ibning from facts, in fupport of his pofitions. In the 
fame year he conceived the aftonilhingly bold and grand 
idea of afcertaining the truth of his doctrine, by actu- 
ally drawing down the forked lightning, by means of 
fharp-pointed iron rods railed into the region of the 
clouds. Even in this uncertain ftate, his paflion to be 
ufeful to mankind difplays itfelf in a powerful manner* 
Admitting the identity of electricity and lightening, 
and knowing the power of points in repelling bodies 
charged with electricity, and in conducting their fire 
iilently and imperceptibly, he fuggcfts the idea of fe- 
curing houfes, fhips, &x. from berng damaged by light- 
Ring, by erecting pointed iron rods, which fhould rife 
ibme feet above the moft elevated part, and delcend 
fome feet into the ground or the water. The effect of 
thefe, he concluded, would be either to prevent a ftroke 
by repelling the cloud beyond the ftriking diftance, or 
by drawing off the electrical fire which it contained; 
or, if they could not effect this, they would at leaft 
conduct the ftroke to the earth, without any injury to 
the building. 

It was not until the fummer of 1752, that he was 
enabled to complete his grand and unparalleled diico- 
very by experiment. The plan which he bad original* 

«7 



DR, FRANKLIN. CQ 

ly propofed, was to erecl on fome high tower, or other 
elevated place, a centry-box, from which fhould rife a 
pointed iron rod, infulated by being fixed in a cake of 
rolin. Electrified clouds palling over this, would he 
conceived, impart to it a portion of their electricity, 
which would be rendered evident to the lenies by {parks 
being emitted, when a key, a knuckle, or other con- 
ductor, was prefented to it. Philadelphia at this time 
afforded no opportunity of trying an experiment of this 
kind. Whillt Franklin was waiting for the erection ot 
a ipire, it occurred to him, that he might have more rea- 
dy accefs to the region of clouds by means of a com- 
mon kite. He prepared one by attaching two crofs 
flicks to a filk handerchief, which -would not fuffer fo 
much from the rain as paper. To this upright (lick 
was fixed an iron point. The firing was, as ufual, of 
hemp, except the lower end, which was filk. Where 
the hemp firing terminated, a key was faftened. With 
this apparatus, on the appearance of a thunder-gufl ap- 
proaching, he went out into the commons, accompani- 
ed by his ion, to whom alone he communicated his in- 
tentions, well knowing the ridicule which too general- 
ly for the interefl of fcience, awaits unfuccefsful ex- 
periments in philofophy. 

He placed himfelf under a flied to avoid the rain. 
His kite was raifed. A thunder cloud pafled over it. 
No (ign of electricity appeared. He almofl defpaired 
of fuccefs ; when fuddenly he obferved the loofe fibres 
of his firing to move towards an erect pofition. He 
now prefented his knuckle to the key, and received a 
ilrong fpark. How exquifite mud his fenfations have 
been at this moment 1 On this experiment depended 
the fate of his theory. If he iucceeded, his name 
would rank high arnongft thole who have improved 
fcience ; if he failed, he mull inevitably be fubje&ed 
to the derifion of mankind, or, what is worie, their- 
pity, as a well-meaning man, but a weak, {\l\y pro- 
jector. The anxiety with which he looked for the re- 
iult of his experiment, may eafily be conceived. 
Doubts and dcfpair had begun to prevail; when the 

faft 



100 THE LIFE OF 

fa£t was aftertained in fo clear a manner, that even 
the mo ft incredulous could no longer withhold their af- 
fent. Repeated ibarks were drawn from the key, a 
phial was charged, a (hock given, and all the experi- 
ments made, which are ufually performed with electa* 
city. 

About a month before this period fome ingenious 
Frenchman had completed the difcovery, in the man- 
ner originally propofed by Dr. Franklin. The letters 
which he lent to Mr. Cottinfon, it is faid, were re- 
fa fed a place amongfr the papers of the Royal Society 
of London. However, this may be, Collinibn publiih- 
ed them in a leparate volume, under the title of 
Experiments and Observations on Electricity, made at 
Philadelphia in America, They were read with avi- 
dity, and fooH translated into different languages. A 
very incorrect. French translation fell into the hands 
of the celebrated Buffon, who,. 'not withstanding the dif- 
advantages under which the work laboured, was much 
pleafed with it, and repeated the experiments with fuc- 
cefs. He prevailed noon his friend, M. D'Alibard, 
to give his countrymen a more correct tranfiation of 
the work of the American electrician. This contri- 
buted much towards fpreading a knowledge of Fr; 
lin's principles in France. — The king, Louis XV", 
hearing of thefe experiments expreiTed a wifll to be a 
fpecftator of them. A courie of experiments was given 
at the feat of the Due D'Ayen, at St. Germaine, by 
M. Dc- Lor. The applaufes .vhich the king beftowed 
upon Franklin, exciced in Buffon, D'Alibard, and 
De Lor, an earneft defne of afcertaining the truth of 
his theory of thunder-gutts. Buffon erected his ap- 
paratus on the tower of Mbntbar. M. D'Alibard at 
Mary-la-ville, and De Lor at his houfe in the Estra- 
pade at Paris, fome of the higheft ground in that 
capital- D'Alibard's machine firit fhewed figns of 
electricity. On the ioth of May, 1752, a thunder 
qloud pafted over it, in the abfence of M. D'Alibard ; 
and a dumber of fp:-n ks were drawn from it by Coiffier, 
a joiner, with whom D'Alibard bad left directions how 

tc 



BJl. FRANKLIN. 101 

to proceed, and by M. Raulet, the prior of Mary-la- 
ville. An account of this experiment was given to 
the Royal Academy of Sciences, in a memoir by M. 
D'Alibard, dated May 13th, 1752. On the 18th of 
May, M. De Lor proved equally iuccefsrul with the 
apparatus erected at his own houie. Thefe difcoveries 
foon excited the philofophers of other parts of Europe 
to repeat the experiment. Amongft thefe, none 11 g- 
nalized themfelves more than father Bcccaria of Tu- 
rin, to whofe observations fcicoce is much indebted. 
Even the cold Regions of RuiTia were penetrated by 
the ardor for difcovery. ProfeiTor Richman bade fair 
to add much to the flock of knowledge on this fubjecl, 
when an unfortunate flalli from his rod put a period 
to his txnlcr.ee. — The friends of frier, ce will long re- 
member, with regret the amiable martyr to electri- 

Gity ' 

liy thefe experiments Franklin's theory was efta- 

bliihed in the molt firm manner. When the truth of 
it could no longer be doubted, the vanity of men en- 
deavoured to detract from its merit. That an Ame- 
rican, an inhabitant* of the obfcure city of Philadel- 
phia, the name of which was hardly known, mould be 
able to make difcoveries, and to frame theories, which 
had efcaped the notice of the enlightened philofophers 
of Europe, was too mortifying to be admitted. He 
mu ft: certainly have taken the idea from fcmebody elfe. 
An American, a being of an inferior order, make dif- 
coveries ! Impoflible. It was faid, that the Abbe 
Nollet, in 1748, had fuggefted the idea of the fimilarl- 
ty of lightning and electricity, in his Lecons de Phy- 
sique. It is tine, that the Abbe mentions the idea, 
but he throws it out as a bare conjecture, andpropofes 
no mode of afcertaining the truth of it. He himielf 
acknowledges, that Franklin firir. entertained the bold 
thought of bringing lightning from the heavens, by 
means of pointed rods fixed in the air. The fimilarity 
of eleclricity and lightning is fo ftrong, that we need 
not be furprifed at notice being taken of it, as foon as 
electrical phenomena became familiar. We find k 

mentioned 



102 THE LIFE OF 

mentioned by Dr. Wall and Mr. Gray, while the 
fcience was in its iu fancy. But the honour of form- 
ing a regular theory of thunder-guOs, of fuggefting a 
mode of determining the truth of it by experiments, 
and of putting thefe experiments in practice, and thus 
eftablifhing his theory upon a firm and fclid bafis, is in- 
contcftibly due to Franklin. D'Ahbard ; who made the 
experiments in France, fays, that he only followed the 
track which Franklin had pointfd o^t. 

It has been of late aiTerted, that the honour of com- 
pleting the experiment with the electrical kite, does 
not belong to Franklin. Some late Englifh para- 
graphs have attributed it to feme Frenchman, whofe 
name they did not mention ; and the Abbe Berthelon 
gives it to M. De Romas* i w the p-Hcrr t rf 

Nerac ; the Englifh paragraphs probably refer to the 
fame perfori. But a very flight attention will con- 
vince us of the injuftice of this procedure : Dr. Frank- 
lin's experiment was made in June 1752: and his let- 
ter, giving an account ofit, is dated October 19, 1752, 
M. De Romas made his firu attempt on the 14th of 
^ a y T 753> Dut was no - fuccefsful until the 7th of 
June; a year after Franklin had completed the dif- 
covery, and when it was known to all the philofophers 
in Europe. 

Befides thefe great principles, Franklin's letters on 
electricity contain a number of facte and hints, which 
have contributed greatly towards reducing this branch 
of knowledge to a fcience. His friend, Mr. Kinnerf- 
ly, communicated to him a difcovery of the different 
kinds cf electricity excited by rubbing glafs and ful- 
pher. This, we have faid, was firft obferved by M. 
Du Faye ; but it was for many years neglected. The 
philofophers were difpofed to account for the pheno- 
mena, rather from a difference in the quantity of elec- 
tricity collc&ed; and even Du Faye himfelf feems at 
lad to have adopted this DocVme. Franklin at fijfl: 
entertained the fame idea ; but upon repeating the ex- 
periments, he perceived that Mr. Kinnerfley was right; 
and that the vitreous and resinous electricity of Da 



DR. FRANKLIN. IO3 

Faye were nothing more than the positive and nega- 
tive dates which he had before obierved ; that the glais 
globe charged positively, or increafed the quantity of 
electricity on the prime conductor, whilft the globe of 
fulpher diminithed its natural quantity, or charged ne- 
gatively. Thefe experiment, and obfervations opened 
a new field for investigation, upon which electricians 
entered with avidity ; and their labours have added 
much to the (lock of our knowledge. 

In September, 1752, Franklin entered upon a courfe 
of experiments, to determine the (late of electricity in 
the clouds. From a number of experiments he formed 
this conclufion : " that the clouds of a thunder-gull 
are mod commonly in a negative (late of electricity, 
but lometimes in a pofnive (late ;" and from this it 
follows, as a neceiTary confequence, " that, for the mod 
part, in thunder-Prrokes, it is the earth that ftrikes into 
the clouds, and not the clouds that ftrike into the 
earth." The letter containing thefe obfervations is 
dated in September, 1753 ; and yet the diicovery of 
afcending thunder has been faid to be of a modern date 
and has been attributed to the Abbe Beriholon, who 
published his memoir on the iubjedl in 1776. 

Franklin's letters have been tranilated into mod of 
the European languages, and into Latin. In propor- 
tion as they have become known, his principles have 
been adopted. Some oppofition was made to his theo- 
ries, particularly by the Abbe Nolle t, who was, how- 
ever, but feebly fupported, whilft the fir ft philosophers 
of Europe ftepped forth in deie::ce of Franklin's prin- 
ciples ; amongft whom D'Alibard and Beccai ia were 
the moft dift'mgui fhed. The oppofition has gradually 
ceafed, and the Franklin fyftern is now univerfally 
adopted, where fcience flourifhes. 

The important practical ufe which Franklin made 
of his difcoveries, the fecuring of houfes from injury 
by lightning, has been already mentioned. Pointed 
conducters are now very common in America ; but 
prejudice has hitherto prevented their general intro- 
duction rnto Europe, notwithftanding the moft un- 
doubted 



104 THE LIFE OF 

doubted proofs of their utility have been given. But 
mankind can with difficulty be brought to lay afide 
eftablifhed practices, or to adopt new ones. And per- 
haps we have more reafon to be furprifed that a prac- 
tice, however rational, which was propoied about for- 
ty years ago, fhould in that time have been adopted 
in lb many places, than that it has not univerfally 
prevailed. It is only by degrees that the great body 
of mankind can be led into new practices, however 
falutary their tendency. It is now nearly eight years 
fince inoculation was introduced into Europe and A- 
merica ; and it is fo far from being general at prefent, 
that it will, perhaps, require one or two centuries to 
render it fo. 

In the year 1745, Franklin publiflied an account of 
his new invented Pennsylvania fire-places, in which he 
minutely and accurately (tates the advantages and dis- 
advantages of different kinds of fire-places ; and en- 
deavours to fhew that the one which he defcribes is to 
be preferred to any other. This contrivance has given 
rife to the open (loves now in general life, which how- 
ever differ from it in conduction, particularly in not 
having an air-box at the back, through which a con- 
stant iupply of air, warmed in its pail age, is thrown 
into the room. The advantages of this are, that as a 
ftream of warm air is continually flowing into the room, 
lefs fuel is neceffary to preferve a proper temperature, 
and the room may be fo tightened as that no air may 
enter through cracks; the confequences of which are 
colds, toothaches, &c. 

Although philofophy was a principal object of Frank- 
lin's purfuit for feveral years, he confined himfelf not 
to this. In the year 1747, he became a member of 
the general afTembly of Pennfylvania, as a burgefs for 
the city of Philadelphia. Warm dilputes at this time 
fubfifted between the aiTembly and the proprietaries; 
each contending for what they conceived to be their 
juft rights. Franklin, a friend to the rights of man 
from his infancy, foon diftinguiPned himfelf as afteady 
opponent of the unjuft fchemes of the proprietaries. — - 

He 



DR. FRANKLIN, 105 

He was foon looked up to as the head of the oppofni- 
on ; and to him have been attributed many of the fpi- 
rited replies of the afTembly, to the meffages of the go- 
vernors. His influence in the body was very great. 
This arofe not from any fuperior powers of eloquence ; 
l>e fpoke but feldom, and he never was known to make 
any thing like an elaborate harrangue. His fpeeches 
often confided of a fingle v fer.tence, or of a well-told 
{lory, the moral of which was always obvioufly to the 
point. He never attempted the flowery fields of ora- 
tory. His manner was plain and mild. His ftyle in 
fpeaking was, like that of his writings, remarkably 
conciie. With this plain manner, and his penetrating 
and folid judgment, he was able to confound the mofl 
eloquent and fubtle of his adverfaries, to confirm the 
opinions of his friends, and to make converts of the 
unprejudiced who had oppofed him. With a (ingle 
obiervation, he has rendered of no avail an elegant and 
lengthy difcourfe, and determined the fate of a quefti- 
on of importance. 

But he was not contented with thus fupporting the 
rights of the people. He w if lied to render them per- 
manently lee ure, which can only be done by making 
their value properly known ; and this mull depend up- 
on increasing and extending information to every clafs 
of men. We have already feen that he was the found- 
er of the public library, which contributed greatly to- 
wards improving the minds of the citizens. But this 
was not fufiicient. The fchools then fubfifting were 
in general of little utility. The teachers were men ill 
qualified for the important duty which they had under- 
taken ; and, after all, nothing more could be obtained 
than the rudiments of a common Englifh education. 
Franklin drew up a plan ol an academy, to be ere&ed 
In the city of Philadelphia, fuited to u the (late of an 
infant country ;" but in this, as in all his plans, he 
confined not his views to the prefent time only. He 
looked forward to the period when an inftitution on an 
enlarged plan would become necefYary. With this 
view he confidered his academy as i( a foundation for 

pofterity 
I 



106 THE LIFE OF 

posterity to erecl a feminary of learning, more exten- 
sive, and fuitable to future circumilances." In pur- 
suance of this plan, the confiitutions were drawn up 
and figned on the 13th of November 1749. In theie 
twenty-four of the moft refpedtable citizens of Phila- 
delphia were named as truftees. In the choice of theie, 
and in the formation of his plan, Franklin is faid to 
have consulted chiefly with Thomas Hopkinfon, Efq. 
Rev. Pvichard Peters, then fecretary 01 the province, 
Tench Francis, Efq. attorney-general, and Dr..Phineas 
Bond. 

The following article (hews a fpirit of benevolence 
worthy of imitation ; and, for the honour of our city, 
we hope that it continues to be in force. 

a In cafe of the inability of the rector^ or any maf- 
ter, (eftablifhed on tbe foundation by receiving a cer- 
tain ialary) through ficknefs, or any other natural .in- 
firmity, whereby he may be reduced to poverty, the 
truftees (hall have power to contribute to his fupport, 
in proportion to his diftrefs and merit, and the flock in 
their hands." 

The. laft claufe of the fundamental rules is exprefted 
in language fo tender and benevolent, fo truly parent- 
al, that it will do everlafting honour to the hearts and 
heads of the founders. 

" It is hoped and expected that the truftees will make 
it their pleafure, and in.fome degree their bufinefs, to 
vifit the academy often ; to encourage and countenance 
the youth, countenance and afTifl the mafters, and by 
all means in their power advance the ufefulnefs and 
reputation of the deftgn, that they will look on the 
ftudents as, in fome meafure, their own children, treat 
them with familiarity and affection ; and when they 
have behaved well, gone through their ftudies, and are 
to enter the world, they fhall zealoufly unite, and make 
all the intereft that can be made, to promote and efta- 
blifh them, whether in buiinefs, offices, marriages, or 
any other thing for their advantage, preferable to ajl 
pther perfons whatfoever, even of equal merit." 

The 



DR. FRANKL1X. I07 

The confiitutions being figned and made public] 
with the names of the gentlemen propofing themielves 
as truftees and founders, the defign was fo well appro- 
ved of by the public-ipirited citizens of Philadelphia, 
that the fum of eight hundred pounds per annum, for 
five years, was in the courfe of a few weeks fubfcribed 
for carrying the plan into execution ; and in the be- 
ginning of January following (viz. 175s) three of the 
fchools were opened, namely, the Latin and Greek: 
fchools, the Mathematical and the Englifh fchools- 
In purfaance of an article in the original plan, a fchool 
for educating fixty boys and thirty girls (id the char- 
ter fince called the Charitable School) was opened, and 
amidd all the difficulties with which the truftees have 
ftruggled in reipect to their funds has ftiil been conti- 
nued full for the fpace of forty years ; fo that allowing 
three years education for each boy a:;d girl admitted 
into it, which is the general rule, at lead twelve hun- 
dred children have received in it the chief part of their 
education, who might otherwife, in a great me afu re- 
have been left without the means of inftrucYion. And- 
many of thole who have been thus educated, are now 
to be found among the mo ft ufefui and reputable citi- 
zens of this ftate. 

The inftitution, thus fuccefsfully begun, continued 
daily to flourifh, to the great fa tisfadYion of D\\ Fiank- 
lin ; who notwithstanding the multiplicity of his other 
engagements and purfuits at that bufy ftage of bis life, 
was a conftant attendant at the monthly vifitations and 
examinations of the fchools, and made it his particular 
ftudy, by means of his extenfrve correfpondence abroad, 
to advance the reputation of the feminary, and to draw 
ftudents and fcholars to it from different paitsof Ame- 
rica and the Weft Indies. Through the interpolition 
of his benevolent and learned friend, Peter Gollinfon, 
of London, upon the application of the truftees, a char- 
ter of incorporation, dated July 13, 1753, was obtain- 
ed from the honourable proprietors of Pennfylvania, 
Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, Efqrs. accompanied 
with a liberal benefadion cf five hundred pounds Her- 



X08 THE LIFE OF 

ling ; and Dr. Franklin now began in good earneft to 
pleafe himfclf with the hopes of a fpeedy accomplifh- 
ment of his originaj defign, viz, the eftablifhment of 
a perfect inftitution, upon the plan of the European 
colleges and univerfities ; for which his academy was 
intended as a nurfery or foundation. To elucidate this 
fact, is a matter of confiderable importance in refpect 
to the memory and character of Dr. Franklin, as a 
philofopher, and as the friend and patron of learning 
and fcience ; for, notwithstanding what is exprefsly 
declared by him in the preamble to the conititutions, 
viz. that the academy was begun for u teaching the 
Latin and Greek languages, with all ufeful branches 
of the arts and fciences, fuitable to the Mate of an in- 
fant country, and laying a foundation for pcfterity to 
erect a feminary of learning more extenlive, and iuit- 
ahie to their future circumftances ;" yet it has been 
iiiggefted of late, as upon Dr. Franklin's authority ? 
that the Latin and Greek, or the dead languages, are 
an incumbrance upon a fcheme of liberal education, 
and that the ingrafting or founding a college, or more 
extenfive feminary, upon his academy, was without 
his approbation or agency, and gave him discontent* 
If the reverfe of this does not already appear, frorrc 
what has been quoted above, the following letters will 
put the matter beyond difpute. They weic written 
by him to a gentleman, who had at that time publiffi- 
ed the idea of a college, fuited to the circumftances of 
young country, (meaning New- York) a copy of which 
having been fent to Dr. Franklin for his opinion, give 
rife to that correfpondenee which terminated about a 
year afterwards, in e reeling the college upon the foun- 
dation of the academy, and eftablifhing that gentleman 
as the head of both, where he Hill continues, after a 
period of thirty-fix years, to prefide with did ingui (lied 
reputation. 

From thefe letters alfo, the flate of the academy, at . 
that time, will be feen. 

Pbihd* , 



DR. PRANKLI N. IOQ 

Phi lad. April 19, J 75 3. 
Sir, 

I received your favour of the 1 ith inftant, with 
your new* piece on Education, which I (hall carefully 
perufe, and give you my fentiments of it, asyoudefire,- 
by next poft. 

I believe the young gentlemen, your pupils, may be 
entertained and inftru&ed here, in mathematics and 
philofophy, to fa tisf action. Mr. Alifonf (who w T as 
educated at Glafgow) has been long accuftomed to 
teach the latter, and Mr. Grew| the former ; and I 
think their pupils make great progrefs. Mr. Allifon 
has the care of the Latin and Greek fchool, but as he 
has now three good affiRants,|| he can very well afford 
fome hours every day for the inlfrucYion of thofe who 
are engaged in higher frudies. The mathematical 
fchool is pretty well furnifhed with inftruments. The 
Englifli library is a good one ; and we have belonging 
to it a middling apparatus for experimental philofophy, 
and purpoie fpeedily to complete it. 1 he Loganian 
library, one of the heft collections in America, will 
fhortly be opened ; fo that neither books nor inftru- 
ments will be wanting ; and as we are determined al- 
ways to give good falaries, we have reafon to believe 
we may have always an opportunity of enuring good 
mailers ; upon which, indeed, the fuccefs of the whole 
depends. We are obliged to you for your kind offers, 
in this refped, and when you are fettled in England, 
we may occafionally make ufe of your friendfiiip and 
judgment. — 

If 



* General idea of the college of Marania. 

t The Rev. and learned Mr. Francis Alison, after- 
wards D. D. and vice-provost of the college. 

\ Mr. Theophitus Grew, afterwards- professor of ma- 
thematics in the college. 

|| Those assistants were at that time Mr. Charles, 
Thomson, late secretary of congress y Mr* Paul Jacksoiiy 
and Mr* Jacob Ditcbe. 

I 2 



110 THE LIFE Of 

If it fuits your conveniency to vifit Philadelphia be- 
fore you return to Europe, 1 fhall be extremely glad 
to fee and converfe with you here, as well as to cor- 
refpond with you after your fettlement in England ; 
for an acquaintance and communication with men of 
learning, virtue and public fpirit, is one of my greateil 
enjoyments. 

I do not know whether you ever happened to fee the 
firft propofals I made for erecting this academy. I fend 
them inclofed. They had (however imperfect) the de- 
fired fuccefs, being followed by a fubfcription of four 
thousand pounds, towards carrying them into execution* 
And as we are fond of receiving advice, and are daily 
improving by experience, I am in hopes we fhall, in a 
few years, fee a perfect institution. 

I am very refpectfully, Sec. 

B. FRANKLIN. 

Mr. W. Smith, Long-Ifland. 



Philad. May ^d, 1753* 
Sir, 
Mr. Peters has juft now been with me, and we have 
compared notes on your new piece. We find nothing 
in the fcheme of education, however excellent, but 
what is, in our opinion, very practicable. The great 
difficulty will be to find the Aratus,* and other fuita- 
ble perfbns, to carry it into execution ; but fuch may 
he had if proper encouragement be given. We have 
both received great pleafure in the perufal of it. For 
my part, I know not when I have read a piece that 
has more affected me — ib noble and juft are the fenti- 

ments 



* The name given to the principal or head of the 
ideal college, the system of education in which hath ne- 
vertheless been nearly realized, or followed as a model 9 
in the college and academy of Philadelphia, and soma 
other American seminaries^ for many years past . 



DR. FRANKLIN. Ill 

ments, fo warm and animated the language ; yet as 
cenfure from your friends may be of more ufe, as well 
as more agreeable to you than praife, I ought to men- 
tion, that I wifh you had omitted not only the quota- 
tion from the Review,* which you are now juitly dif- 
fatisfiecL with, but thole expreilions of refentment a- 
gainft your adverfaries, in pages 65 and 79. In fucii 
cafes, the nobleft victory is obtained by neglect, and 
by fliiaing on. 

Mr. Allen has been out of town thefe ten days ; but 
before he went he directed me to procure him fix copies 
of your piece. Mr. Peters has taken ten. He pur- 
poled to have written to you ; but omiis it, as he ex- 
pects fo ^on to have the pleafure of feeing you here. 
He defires me to prefent his affectionate compliments 
to you, and to aiTure you that yon will be very welcome 
to him. I fhall only fay, that you may depend on my 
doing all in my power to make your vifit to Philadel- 
phia agreeable to you. 

I am, &x. 



B. FRANKLIN. 



Mr. Smith. 



PbilacL Nov. 2~tb, 1 753. 

DEAR SIR, 

Having written you fully, via Briftol, I have now 
little to add. Matters relating to the academy remain 
in statu quo. The truftees would be glad to fee a 
rector eftablifhed there, but they dread entering into 
new engagements till they are out of debt ; and I have 

not 



* The quotation alluded to (from the London Month- 
ly Review for 17 49, ) was judged to reflect too severe- 
ly on the discipline and government of the English uni- 
versities of Oxford and Cambridge, and was expunged 
from tb? following editions of this work. 



112 THE L I F £ T 

not yet got them wholly over to my opinion, that a 
good profeffor, or teacher of the higher branches of 
learning would draw fo many fcholars as to pay great 
part, if not the whole of his falary. Thus, unlefs the 
proprietors (of the province) mall think fit to put the 
finifning hand to our inititution, it mud, I fear, wait 
fome few years longer before it can arrive at that (late 
of perfection, which to me it feems now capable of; 
and all the pleafure I promifed myfelf in feeing you 
fettled among us, vanifhes into fmoke. 

But good Mr. Collinfon writes me word, that no 
endeavors of his fhall be wanting ; and he hopes, with 
the archbifhop's afliftance, to be able to prevail with 
our proprietors*. I pray God grant them fuccefs. 

My fon prefents his afiection&te regards, with 
dear fir, 

Yours, Sec. 

B. FRANKLIN. 

P. S. I have not been favoured with a line from 
youflnce your arrival in England. 



Philadelphia, April 18th, 1754. 

Dear Sir, 

I have had but one letter from you fince your arri- 
val in England, which was n fhort one, via. Boiton, da- 
ted October 18th, acquainting me that you had wi it- 
ten 



* Upon the application of archbishop Herring and P. 
Collinson, esq. at Dr. Franklin's request, (aided bj the 
letters of Mr. Allen and Mr. Peters J the Bon. Thomas 
Penn, esq. subscribed an annual sum, and afterwards 
gave at least , 5000/ to the founding or engrafting the 
college up*n the academy* 



DR. FRANKLIN. IIJ 

ten largely by Gapt. Davis — Davis was loft, and with 
him your letters, to my great difappointment. — Mef- 
nard and Gibbon have ftnce arrived here, and I hear 
nothing from you. — My comfort is, an imagination 
that you only omit writing becaufe you are coming, 
and purpofe to tell me every thing viva voce* So not 
knowing whether this letter will reach you, and hop- 
ing either to lee or hear from you by the Myrtilla, 
capt. Buddon's fhip, which is daily expected, I only 
add, that I am, with great efteem and affection, 

Yours, &c. 

B. FRANKLIN. 
Mr, Smith. 



About a month after the date of this lad letter, the 
gentleman to whom it was addrefTed arrived in Phila- 
delphia, and was immediately placed at the head of the 
feminary: whereby Dr. Franklin, and the other truf- 
tees were enabled to profecute their plan, for perfect- 
ing the inftitution, and opening the college upon the 
large and liberal foundation on which it now (lands ; 
for which purpofe they obtained their additional char- 
ter, dated May 27th, 1755. 

Thus far we thought it proper to exhibit in one 
view Dr. Franklin's tervices in the foundation and ef- 
tablifhment of this feminary. He foon afterward 
embarked for England, in the public fervice of his 
country ; and having been generally employed abroad 
in the like fervice, for the greateft part of the remain- 
der of his life (as will appear in our fubfequent ac- 
count of the fame) he had but few opportunities of 
taking any further active part in the affairs of the fe- 
minary, until his final return in the year 1785, when 
he found its charters violated, and his ancient colleagues 
the original founders, deprived of their truft, by an a£t 
of the legiflature, and although his own name had been 
inferted among the new truftees, yet he declined to 

take 



114 T H E L I Ft OF 

take his feat among them, or any concern in the ma- 
nagement of their affairs, till the inRitution was re- 
stored by law to its original owners. He then afTem- 
bled his old colleagues at his own houfe, and being 
chofen their prefident, all their future meetings were 
at his requeft, held there, till within a few months of 
his death, when with reluctance, and at their defire r 
left he might be too much injured by his attention 
to their bufinefs, he futfered them to meet at the col- 
lege. 

Franklin not only gave birth to many ufeful infli- 
tutions himfelf, but he was alio inftru mental in pro- 
moting thofe which had originated with other men. 
About the year 1752, . an eminent phyfician of this 
city, Dr. Bond, confidering the deplorable (Tate of the 
poor, when vifited with difeafe, conceived the idea of 
eftaWi fhing an hbfpitad. Notwithfran ding very great., 
exertions on his part, he was able to interefl few peo- 
ple lb far in his benevolent plan, as to obtain fubfcrifM 
tions from them. Unwilling that his fcheme fhoulct 
prove abortive, he fought the aid of Franklin, who 
readily engaged in the bufinefs, both by ufmg his in- 
fluence with his friends, and by Rating the advantage- 
ous influence of the propofed inftitution in his paper. 
Thefe efforts were attended with fuccefs. Con fide r»- 
ble fums were fubferibed ; but they were full (hoit of 
what wasj necefiary Franklin new made another exer- 
tion. He applied to the aflembly ; and, after fame 
oppofition obtained leave to bring in a bill, fpecifying 
that as foon as two thoufand pounds were fubferibed, 
the fame fum fiiould be drawn from the trea fury by the 
fpeaker's warrant, to be applied to the .purpoles of the 
inftitution. The oppofition, as the fum was granted 
upon a contingency which they fuppofed would never 
take place, were filent, and the hill palled. The friends 
of the plan now redoubled their efforts, to obtain fub- 
fieri p tions to the amount dated in the bill, and were 
foon fuccefsful. This was the foundation of the Perm- 
iVtvauia Hofpital, which, with the Bettering-houfe and 

Difpenfary 



DR. FRANKLIN. II5 

Difpenfary, bears ample teftimony of the humanity of 
the citizens of Philadelphia. 

Dr. Franklin had conducted himfelf fo well in the 
office of pott-matter, and had (hown himfelf to be fo 
well acquainted with the bulinefs of that department 
that it was thought expedient to raife him to a more 
dignified Ration. In 1753 he was appointed deputy 
pole- matter-general for the Britifh colonies. The pro- 
tits ariiing from the pottage of the revenue, which the 
crown of Great Britain derived from the colonies. In 
the hands of Franklin, it is faid, that the pott-office in 
America yielded annually thrice as much as that of 
Ireland. 

The American colonies were much expofed to de- 
predations on their frontiers, by the Indians ; and more 
particularly whenever a war took place between France 
and. England. The colonies, individually, were either 
too weak to take efficient meafures for their own de- 
fence, or they were unwilling to take upon themfelves 
the whole burden of erecting forts and maintaining 
garriions, whilft their neighbours, who partook equally 
with themlelves of the advantages, contributed no- 
thing to the expence. Sometimes alfo the difputes, 
which fubfifled between the governors and affemblies, 
prevented the adoption of means of defence ; as we 
have feen was the cafe in Pennfylvania in 1745. To 
devife a plan of union between the colonies, to regu- 
late this and other matters, appeared a defirable ob- 
ject. To accomplifh this, in the year 1754, commif- 
iioners from New-Hamp(hire, MafTachuletts, Rhode- 
Illand, New-Jerfey, Pennfylvania, and Maryland, met 
at Albany. Dr. Franklin attended here, as a com- 
rniiTioner . from Pennfylvania, and produced a plan, 
which, from the place of meeting, has been ufually 
termed " The Albany Plan of Union." This pro- 
pofed, that application mould be made for an a£t of 
-parliament, to ettablifh in the colonies a general go- 
vernment, to be adminitteredby a prefident-general, ap- 
pointed, by the crown, and by a grand council, con- 
fiding of members chofen by the reprefentatives of the 

different 



Il6 THE LIFE 0"F 

different colonies ; their number to be indirect propor- 
tion to the fums paid by each colony into the general 
treafury, with this reftricYion, that no colony fhould 
have more than feven, norlefs than two reprefentatives. 
The whole executive authority was committed to the 
prefident-general. The power of legiilation was lodg- 
ed in the grand council and prefident-general jointly ; 
his confent being made necefTary to palling a bill into 
a law. The power veiled in the prefident and council 
were, to declare war and peace, and to conclude trea- 
ties with the Indian nations ; to regulate trade w T ith, 
and to makepurchafes of vacant lands from them, either 
in the name of the crown, or of the union : to fettle 
new colonies, to make laws for governing thefe until 
they mould be erected into feparate governments, and 
to raife troops, build forts, fit out armed veffels and ufe 
other means for the general defence : and, to effect 
thefe things, a power was given to make laws laying 
fuch duties, imports, or taxes, as they fhould find ne- 
cefTary, and as would be leaft burdenfcme to the peo- 
ple. All laws were to be fent to England for the 
king's approbation ; and nnlefs disapproved of within 
three years, were to remain in force. All officers in 
the land or £ea fervice were to be nominated by the 
prefident-general, and approved of by the general 
council ; civil officers were to be nominated by the 
council, and approved by the prefident. Such are the 
outlines of the plan propofed, for the consideration of 
the congrefs, by Dr. Franklin. After feveral days' dif- 
cuffion, it was unanimoufly agreed to by the commif- 
fioners, a copy tranfmitted to each affembly, and one 
to the king's council. The fate of it was lingular. 
It was difapproved of by the minifrry of Great Britain* 
becaufe it gave too much power to the reprefentatives 
of the people; and it was rejected by every aiTembly, as 
giving to the prefident-general, the reprefentative of 
the crown, an influence greater than appeared to them 
proper, in a plan of government intended for freemen. 
Perhaps this rejection, cu both fides, is the ftrongefl: I 
proof that could be adduced of the excellence of it, as I 

iuited I 



D R> FRANKLIN. II Jr 

firited to the fituation of America and Great-Britain 
at that time. It appears to have fleered exa&ly in the 
middle, between the oppofite interefts of both. 

Whether the adoption of this plan would have pre- 
vented the feparation of America from Great-Britain, 
is a queftion which might afford much room for fpecula- 
tion. It may be faid, that, by enabling the colonies to de- 
fend themfelves, it would have removed the pretext 
upon which the (lamp-act., tea-ac~t, and other acls of 
the Britifh parliament, were pafled; which excited a 
fpirit of oppofition, and laid the foundation for the 
feparation of the two countries. But, on the other 
hand, it muft be admitted, that the reftridtion laid by 
Great Britain upon our commerxe, ohliging us to felt 
our produce to her citizens only, and to take from them 
various articles, of which, as our manufactures were 
difcouraged, we flood in need, at a price greater than 
that for which they could have been obtained from 
x>ther nations, mud inevitably produce diflatisfacHon, 
even though no duties were impofed by the parlia- 
ment: a circumftance which might ft ill have taken 
place. Befides, as the preiident-general was to be 
appointed by the crown, he muft, of neceffity, be de- 
voted to its views, and would therefore, refufe his af- 
fent to any laws, however falutary to the community, 
which had the moft remote tendency to injure the in- 
terefts of his fovereign. Even fhould they receive his 
aflentj the approbation of the king was to be necefla- 
ry ; who would indubitably, in every inftance, prefer 
the advantage of his home dominions to that of his 
colonies. Hence would enfue perpetual difagreements 
between the council and the prelident-general, and thus, 
.between the people of America and the crown of Great 
Britain : While the colonies continued weak, they 
would be obliged to fubmit, and as ibon as they ac- 
quired ft rength they would become more urgent in 
their demands, until, at length, they would (hake off 
the yoke, and declare themfelves independent. 

Whilftthe French were in pofleffion of Canada, their 
irade with the natives extended very far \ even to the 

back 
K 



Il8 THE XIFE OJ 

back of the Eritifh fettlements. They were difpofed, 
from time to time, to eftablilh pofts within the territo- 
ry, which the Britifh claimed as their own. Indepen- 
dent of the injury to the fur-tiade, which was consider- 
able, the colonies fuffered this further inconvenience, 
that the Indians were frequently infti gated to commit 
depredations on their frontiers. In the year 1753, en- 
croachments were made upon the boundaries of Vir- 
ginia. Remonftrances had no effect. In the enfuing 
year, a body of men was lent out under the command 
of Mr. Walhingtog, who, though a very young man, 
had, by his conduct in the preceding year, ihewn him- 
felf worthy of fuch an important truft. Whilft march- 
ing to take pofleflion of the poll at the junction of the 
Allegany and Monongahela, he was informed that the 
French had already erected a fort there. A detach- 
ment of their men marched againft him. He fortified 
himfelf as ftrongly ~as time and circumftances would 
permit. A fuperiority of numbers Icon obliged him 
to fui render Fort Necessity. He obtained honourable 
terms for himfelf and men, and returned to Virginia. 
The government of Great-Britain now thought it ne- 
cefiary to interfere. In the year 1755, General Brad- 
dock, with fome regiments of regular troops, and pro- 
vincial levies, was lent to difpolfefs the Fiench of the 
pofts upon which they had feized. After the men 
were all ready, a difficulty occurred, which had nearly 
prevented the expedition. This was the want of wag- 
gons. Franklin now ftepped forward, and with the 
affiftance of his fon, in a little time procured a hun- 
dred and fifty. Braddock unfortunately fell into an 
ambufcade, and perifhed, with a number of his men. 
Wafhington, who had accompanied him as an aid-de- 
camp, and had warned him, in vain of his danger, 
now difplayed great military talents in effecting a re- 
treat of the remains of the army, and in forming a 
junction with the rear, under colonel Dunbar, upon 
whom the chief command now devolved. With feme 
difficulty they brought their little body to a place of 
fafety ; but they found it neceffary to deftroy their 

waggons 



DR. FRANKLIN 119 

waggons and baggage to prevent their falling into the 
hands of the enemy. For the waggons which he had 
furnifhed, Franklin had given bonds to a large amount. 
The owners declared their intentions of obliging him 
to make a reditution of their property. Had they put 
their threats in execution, ruin mud inevitably have 
been the confequence. Governor Shi rely, finding' 
that he had incurred thefe debts for the fervice of go- 
vernment, made arrangements to have them difcharg- 
ed, and. releafed Franklin from his difagreeable fitua- 
tion.. 

The alarm -fpread through the colonies, .after the defeat 
of Braddock, was very great. Preparations to arm were 
every where made. In Pennfylvania, the prevalence of the 
quakcr i nte reft: prevented the adoption of any fyftem of 
defence which would compel the citizens to bear arms. 
Franklin introduced into the aflembly a bill for orga- 
nizing a militia, by which every man was allowed to 
take arms or not, as to him (hould appear fit. The 
quakers, being thus left at liberty, differed the bill to 
pafs ; for although their principles would not fuiFerthern 
to fight, they had no objections to their neighbours 
fighting for them. In confequence of this act a very 
refpedtable militia was formed. The fenfe of impend- 
ing danger infuled a military fpirit in all, whofe religi- 
ous tenets were not oppofed to war. Franklin was 
appointed colonel of a regiment in Philadelphia, which 
confided of iaoo men. 

The north- wedern frontier being invaded by the ene- 
my, it became necefiary to adopt meafures for its de- 
fence. Franklin was directed 'by the governor to take 
charge of this bufinefs. A power of raifmg men, and 
of appointing officers to command them, w T as veded in 
him. He foon levied a body of troops, with which he 
repaired to the place at which their prefence was ne- 
celTary. Here he built a fort, and placed the garrifon 
in fuch a podure of defence, as would enable them to 
withdand the inroads to which the inhabitants had 
previously been expofed. He remained here for fome 
rtime, in order the more completely to difcharge the 

truft 



I2G T H E L I F E O F 

trud committed to him. Some budnefs of importance 
rendered his pretence neceffary in the aflembly, and he 
returned to Philadelphia.. 

The defence of her colonies was a great expence to 
Great Britain. The mod effectual mode of leffening 
thrs was, to put arms into the hands of the inhabitants 
and to teach them their ufe. But England wi died not 
that the Americans fhould become acquainted with 
their own drength. She was apprehenlive, that, as 
icon as this period arrived, they would no longer fubmit 
to that monopoly of their trade, which to them was 
highly injurious, but extremely advantageous to the 
mother country. In comparifon with the profits of 
this, the expence of maintaining armies and dates to 
defend them was trifling. She fought to keep them de- 
pendent upon her for protection, the bed plan which 
could be deviled for retaining them in peaceable fub- 
(eclion. The leaft appearance or a military fpirit Ava* 
therefore to be guarded againd, and, although a war 
then raged, the act organizing a militia was difapprov- 
ed of by the minifhy. The regiments which had 
been formed under it were difbanded, and the defence 
of the province entrufled to regular troops. 

The difputes between the proprietaries and the peo- 
ple continued in full force,, although a war was raging 
on the frontiers. Not even the fenfe of danger waj 
fiiihxier.t to reconcile, for ever fo (hort a time, their' 
jarring intereds. The stflfembly dill infilled upon the 
jaftice of taxing the proprietary eftates, but the gove-* 
nors condantly, refilled to give their affent to this, 
meafure, without which no bill could pafs into a law. 
Enraged at the obdinacy, and what they conceived to 
be unju.d proceedings of their opponents, the affemWy 
tit length determined to apply to the mother country 
for relief. A petition was addreffed to the king, in 
council, dating the iqconveniencies under which the 
inhabitants laboured, from the attention of the proprie- 
taries to their private intereds, to the neglect of the 
general welfare of the community, and praying for re- 
drefs. Franklin was appointed to prefent t*his addrefs 



DRr FRANKLIN. IZI 

as agent for the province of Pennfylvania, and depart- 
ed from America in June 1757. In conformity to the 
inihuriions which he had received from the legiilature, 
held a conference with the proprietaries, who then re- 
fided in England, and endeavomed topi evail upon them 
to give up the long-cowtefted point. Finding that they 
would hearken to no terms of accommodation, he laid his. 
petition before the council. During this time gover- 
nor Denny alien ted to a law impofing a tax, in which 
no difcrimination was made in favour of the efrates of 
the Penn family. They, alarmed .at this intelligence, 
and Franklin's exertions, ufed their utmofl exertions 
to prevent the royal fanction being given to this law, 
which they reprefented as highly iniquitous, defigned 
to throw the burden of fupporting government on them, 
and calculated to produce ttu molt ruinous confequences 
to them and their poiteriiy. The caufe was amply dif- 
cuffed before the privy council. The Penns found 
here ibme ftrenuous advocates; nor were there wanting 
fome who warmly efpoufed the fide of the people* 
After ionte time fpent in debate, a propofai was made, 
that Franklin fhould folemnly engage, that the avTefT- 
ment of the tax lhould be fo made, as that the pro- 
prietary e Rates fhould pay no more than a due propor- 
tion. This he agreed to perform, the Penn family- 
withdrew their oppofnion, and tranquility was thus once 
more reflored to the province^ 

The. mode in which this difpute was determined is 
. a (hiking proof of the high opinion entertained of 
Franklin's integrity and honour, even by thole who 
confidered him as inimical to their views. Nor was 
their confidence ill-founded. The afleflment was 
made upon the ftricteit principles of equity; and the 
proprietary eftates bore only a proportionable fhare of 
the expencesof fupporting government. 

After the completion of this important huGnefs, 

Franklin remained at the court of Great Britain, as 

agent for the province of Pennfylvania. The exten- 

five knowledge which he pofTeiTed of the Gtuation of 

ies, and the regard which he always manifefr- 

K 2 



122 TH E L IFE OF 

e&ipr their interefts, occafioned his appointment to the' 
fame office by the colonies of Maffachufetts, Mary- 
land, and Georgia. His conduct, in this fituatioiv 
was fuch as rendered him ftill more dear to his country- 
men. 

He had now an opportunity of indulging in the fo- 
ciety of thofe friends, whom his merits had procured 
him while at a diftance. The regard which they had 
entertained for him was rather encreafed by a perfo- 
nal acquaintance. The oppofition which had been 
made to his difcoveries in philofophy gradually ceaied, 
and the rewards of literary merit were abundantly con- 
ferred upon him. The royal fociety of London, which 
had at firft refuted his performances admiffion into its 
tranfadtions, now thought it an honour to rank him 
among its fellows. Other focieties of Europe were 
equally ambitious of calling him a member. The uni- 
versity of St* Andrew's, in Scotland, conferred upon 
him the degree of Doctor of Laws. Its example was 
followed by the univerfities of Edinburgh and of Ox- 
fordr His correfpondence was fought for by the moft 
eminent philofophers of Europe. His letters to thefe 
abound with true fcience, delivered in the moft fimple 
unadorned manner. 

The province of Canada was at this time in the pof- 
feffion of the French, who had originally fettled it. 
The trade with the Indians, for which its fituation 
was very convenient, was exceedingly lucrative. The 
French traders here found a market for their commo- 1 
dities, and received in return large quantities of rich 
furs, which they difpofed cf at a high price in Europe. 
WhiliAthe pofleilion of this country was highly advan- 
tageous to France, it was a grievous inconvenience to 
the inhabitants of the Britilh colonies. The Indians 
were almofl generally defirous to cultivate the friend- 
ship of the French, by whom they were abundantly 
fupplied with arms and ammunition. Whenever a war 
happened, the Indians were ready to fall upon the fron- 
tiers ; and this they frequently did, even when Great 
Britain and France were at peace. From thefe con- 
fide rati on s y 



I) R. FRANKLIN. 123 

Gderations, it appeared to be the intereft of Great 
Britain to gain the pofieflion of Canada. But the im- 
portance of fuch an acquiHtion was not well underftood 
in England. Franklin about this time publifhed his 
Canada pamphlet, in which he, in a very forcible man- 
ner, pointed out the advantages which would refuit 
from the conqueft of this province. 

An expedition againft it was planned, and the com- 
mand given to General Wolfe. His fuccefs is well 
known. At the treaty in 1762, France ceded Cana- 
da to Great Britain, and by her ceffion of Louifiana, 
at the fame . time, relinquifhed all her povTeilions on 
the continent of America. 

Although Dr. Franklin was now principally occupied 
with political purfuits, he found time for philofophical 
.ftudies. He extended his electrical refearches, and 
made a variety of experiments, particularly on the tour- 
malin. The lingular properties which this (lone pof- 
feffes of being electrified on one fide pofitively, and on 
the other negatively, by heat alone, without friction 7 
had been but lately obferved, 

Some experiments on the cold produced by evapora- 
tion, made by Dr. Cullen, had been communicated to 
Dr. Franklin by Profeffor Simpibn of Glafgow. Theie 
he repeated, and found that, by the evaporation ol 
ether in the exhaufted receiver of an air-pump, fo 
great a degree of cold was produced in a fummer'sday, 
that water was converted into ice. This dileovery he 
applied to the folution of a aumber of phenomena, par- 
ticularly a lingular fad, which philoibphers had en- 
deavoured in vain to account for, viz. that the tem- 
perature of the human body, when in health, never ex- 
ceeds 96 degrees of Farenlieit's thermometer, although 
the atmofphere which furrounds it may be heated to a? 
much greater degree. This he attributed to the in- 
created perfpiration, and confequent evaporation, pro- 
duced by the heat. 

In a letter to Mr. Small of London, dated in May 
1760, Dr. Franklin makes a number of obfervations, 
tending to fliew that, in North America, north-eaft 

ftorms 



12-4 THE L I P-E C F 

ftorms begin in the fouth-wePt parts. It appears, fronr 
actual oblervation, that a north-cad (loin, which ex- - 
tended a considerable ciiftance, commenced in Phila- 
delphia nearly four hours before it was felt at Bofton. 
He endeavoured to account for this, by fuppofing that, 
from heat, fomc rarefaction takes place about the gulf 
of Mexico, that the air further north being cooler 
rufhes in, and is Succeeded by the cooler and denier air 
ftill further north, and that thus a continued current is 
at length produced. 

The tone produced by rubbing the brim of a drink- 
ing glafs with a wet finger had been generally known. 
A Mr. Puckeridge, an Irifhman, by placing on a table, 
a number of glafs of different fizes, and tuning them 
by partly filling them with water, endeavoured to form 
an infVdiment capable of playing tunes. He was pre- 
vented by an untimely end, from bringing his inven- 
tion to any degree of perfection. After his death 
fome improvements were made upon his plan. The 
fweelneis of the tones induced Dr. Franklin to make, 
a vaiiety of experiments; and he at. length formed, 
that elegant inihument which he has Culled the At- 
?nonica. 

In the fummer of 1762 he returned to America.— ; 
On his parage he cbferved the lingular effect produced 
by the agitation of a \efTeI, containing oil floating on 
water. The fut face of the oil remains fmcoth and un- 
dillurbed, whi-lft the water is agitated with the utmofr. 
commotion. No iatisfaCiory explanation of this ap» 
peaiance has, we believe, ever been given. 

Dr. Franklin -eceived the thanks of the afTembly of 
Pennfylvania, if - as well for the faithful difcharge of 
his duty to that province in particular, as for the many 
and important fervices done to America in general, 
during his refidence in Great-Britain." A compenfa- 
tion of 500c!. Pennfylvania currency, was alfo decreed, 
"him for his fervices during fix years. 

During his abfence he had been annually elected 
member of the afTembly, On his return to Pennfyl- 
vania 



D K. rUANKLlN. 125: 

vania he again took his feat in this body, and continue 
ed a (ready defender of the liberties of the people. 

In December 1^62, a circumftance which caufed 
great alarm in the province took place. A number 
of Indians had refrded in the county of Lancafter, and 
conducted themfelves uniformly as friends to the white 
inhabitants. Repeated depredations on the frontiers 
had exafperated the inhabitants to fuch a degree, that 
they determined on revenge upon every Indian. A 
number of perfons, to the amount of 120, principally 
inhabitants of Donnegal and Peckftan.g or Paxton 
tdwnfhips, in the county of York, affembled ; and, 
mounted on horfeback, proceeded to the fettlement of 
thefe barmlefs and defencelefs Indians, whole number 
had now reduced, to about twenty. The Indians re- 
ceived intelligence of the attack which was intended 
againft them, but difoelieved it. Confidering the 
wrnte people as their friends; they apprehended no dan- 
ger from them. When the party anived at the Indi- 
an fettlement, they found only feme women and chil- 
dren, and a few old men, the reft being abfent at work. 
They murdered all whom they found, and amongft 
others the chief Shahae?, who had been always diftin- 
guifhed for bis i» iendfhip to the whites. Tins bloody 
deed excited much indignation in the well difpofed part 
cf the community. 

The remainder of thefe unfortunate Indians, who, 
by abfence, had efcaped the maffacre, were conducted 
to Lancafter, and lodged in the gaol, as a place of fe- 
curity. The governor iffued a proclamation, expreff- 
ing the ftrongeft disapprobation of the action, offering 
a reward for the diicovery cf the perpetrators of the 
deed, and prohibiting all injuries to the peaceable In- 
dians in future. But, notwithstanding this, a party 
cf the fame men fhortly after marched to Lancafter, 
broke open the gaol, and inhumanly butchered the in- 
nocent Indians who had been placed there for Security. 
Another proclamation was iffued, but lud no effect 
A detachment maiched down to Philadelphia, for the 
exprefs purpofe of murdering feme friendly Indians 

who 



126 THE LIFE OF 

who had been removed to the city for fafety. A num* 
ber of the citizens armed in their defence. The Qua- 
kers, whofe principles are oppofed to fighting, even in 
their own defence, were moil active upon this occafi- 
on. The rioters came to Germantown. The gover- 
nor fled for fafety to the houfe of Dr. Franklin, who, 
with fome others, advanced to meet the Paxton boys, 
as they were called, and had influence enough to pre- 
vail upon them to relinquifh their undertaking, and vcr 
turn to their homes. 

The diiputes between the proprietaries and the af- 
fembly, which, for a time, had fubGded, were again 
revived. The proprietaries were diifatisfied with the 
conceflfions made in favour of the people, and made 
great ftruggles to recover the privilege of exempting 
their eflates from taxation, which they had been in- 
duced to give up. 

In 1763 the affembly pafTed a militia bill, to which 
the governor refufed to give his ailent, unlefs the af- 
fembly would agree to certain amendments which he 
propofed. Thefe confuted in increafmg the Sues, and, 
in feme cafes, fubllituting death for fines. He wifhed , 
too tlm the officers fhould be appointed altogether, by 
J >imfe If, and not be nominated by the people, -as the 
bill had propofed. Thefe amendments the affembly 
confiacred as inconfiftent with the fpirit of liberty.— r> . 
They would not adopt them; the. governor was obfli- 
nate, and the bill was loir. 

Thefe, and various ether circurnflances, increafed 
the uneafinefs which fubfifted between the proprietaries 
and the aiTembly to fuch a degree, that, in 1764, a 
petition to the king was agreed to by the hcufe, pray- 
ing an alteration from a proprietary to a regal govern- . 
rcent. G-reat oppofition was made to this meafure, not 
only in the houfe, but in the public prints. A fpeech 
of Mr. Dickenfon, on the fubjecl:, was publifhed, with . 
a preface by Dr. Smith, in which great pains were 
taken to (hew the impropriety and impolicy of this pro- . 
ceeding. A fpeech of Mr. Galloway, in reply to 
Mr. Dickenfon, was publifhed, accompanied with a 

preface 



DR. FRANKLIN. 127 

preface by Dr. Franklin ; in which he ably oppofed 
the principles laid down in the preface to Mr. Dick- 
enfon's fpeech. This application to the throne produ- 
ced no effect. The proprietary government Was ftili 
continued. 

At the election for a new affembly, in the fall of 
1764, the friends of the proprietaries made great ex- 
ertions to exclude thofe of the adverfe party, and ob- 
tained a fmail majority in the city of Philadelphia. 
Franklin now loft his feat in the honfe, which he had 
held for fourteen years. On the meeting of the af- 
fembly, it appeared that there was ftill a decided majo- 
rity of Franklin's friends. He was immediately ap- 
pointed provincial agent, to the great chagrin of his 
enemies, who made a folemn proteft againft his ap- 
pointment ; which was refufed admifTion upon the mi- 
nutes, as being unprecedented. It was, however, pub- 
Kfhed in the papers, and produced a fpirited reply from 
tim juft before his departure for England. 

The diliurbances produced in America by Mr. Gren- 
v'ille's (lamp-act, and the oppoinion made to it, are 
well known. Under the marquis of Kcekingham's ad- 
miniftration, it appeared expedient to endeavour to 
calm the minds of the colonics ; and the repeal of the 
odious tax was contemplated. Amongft oilier means 
of collecting information en the difpofition of the peo- 
ple to fubmit to it, -Dr. Franklin was called to the bar 
of the houfe of commons. The examination which 
lie here underwent was publHhed, and contains a ftri- 
king proof of the extent and accuracy of his informa- 
tion, and the facility with which he communicated his 
fentiineuts. He represented facts in ib ttrong a point 
of view, that the inexpediency of the act mult have 
appeared clear to every unprejudiced mind. The act, 
after fome oppofition, was repealed, about a year after 
it was enacted, and before it had ever been carried in- 
to execution. 

In the year 1766, he made a vifjt to Holland and 

many, and received the greateft marks of attention 

from men of fcieuce. In his palfage through Holland, 

he 



I.2& THE LIFE OF 

he learned from the watermen the efFe£L which a dimi- 
nution of the quantity of water in canals has, in impe- 
ding the progreis of boats* Upon his return to Eng- 
land, he was led to make a number of experiments; 
all of which tended to confirm theobfervation. Thefe, 
with an explanation of the phenomenon, he commu- 
nicated in a letter to his friend, Sir John Pringle, which 
is contained in the volume of his philofophical 
pieces. 

In the following year he travelled into France^ 
where he met with a no lefs favourable reception than 
he had experienced in Germany. He was introduced 
to a number of literary characters, and to the king 
Louis XV. 

Several letters written by Hutchmfon, Oliver* and 
others, to peribns in eminent Rations in Great Britain, 
came into the hands of Dr. Franklin. 

Thefe contained the mod violent invectives againft 
the leading characters of the Rate of MalTachufetts, 
and Rrenuoufiy adviled the profecution of vigorous mea- 
sures, to compel the people to obedience to the mea- 
iiires of the miniftry. Thefe he tranfmitted to the le- 
giflature, by whom they were pubhfhed. AtteRed 
copies of them were fent to -Great Britain, with an 
addrefs, praying the king to difcharge from ofnce per- 
lons who had rendered themfelves \'o obnoxious to the 
people, and who had (hewn themfelves fo unfriendly to 
their intereRs. 

The publication of thefe letters produced a duel be- 
tween Mr. Whately and Mr. Temple ; each of whom 
was fufpected of having been inRrumental in procuring 
them. To prevent any further difputes en this fuh- 
ject, Dr. Franklin, in one of the public papers, declar- 
ed that he had lent them to America, ±>ut would give 
no information concerning the manner in which he had 
obtained them ; nor was this ever discovered. 

Shortly after, the petition cf the Maffachufetts af- 
iembly was taken up for examination, before the privy 
council. Dr. Franklin attended, as agent for the ai- 
,fe«ibly ; and here a torrent of the moR violent and un- 
warranted 



D £. FRANKLIN. 12C) 

warranted abufe was poured upon him by the folicitor- 
general, We'dderburne, who was engaged as council for 
Oliver and Hutchinfon. The petition was declared 
to be fcandalous and vexatious, and the prayer of it 

refilled* 

Although the parliament of Great-Britain had re- 
pealed the ftainp-act, it was only upon the principle 
of expediency. They dill infilled upon their right to 
tax the colonies ; and, at the lame time that the iVamp- 
act was repealed, an act was patted, declaring the 
right of parliament to bind the colonies in all cafes 
whatfoever This language was ufed even by the mod 
ftrenuous oppofers of the ft amp-act ; and, amongfr. o- 
thers, by Mr. Pitt. This right was never recognized 
'by the colonics ; but, as they flattered themfelves that 
it would not be exercifed, they were not very active 
in remonftrating againft it. Had this pretended right 
been differed to remain dormant, the colonics would 
cheerfully have furuifhed their quota of fupplies, in the 
mode to which they had been.accuftomed : that is, by 
acts of their own afleinblies, in coniequence of requi- 
sitions from the fecretary of (late. If this practice 
had been purfued, fuch was the difpofition of the co- 
lonies towards the mother country, that, notwithstand- 
ing the difadvantages under which they laboured, from 
reftraints upon their trade, calculated folely for the 
benefit of the commercial and manufacturing interefls 
of Great Britain, a feparation of the two countries 
.might have been a far diftant event. The Americans, 
from their earlieft infancy, were taught to venerate 
a people from whom they were delcended ; whofe 
language, laws and manners were the fame as their 
own. They looked up to them as models of perfecti- 
on ; and, in their prejudiced minds, the mod enlight- 
ened nations of Euiope were considered as almoft bar- 
barians, in companion with Englifhmen. The name 
of an Englishman conveyed to an American the idea 
of every thing good and great. Such femiments in- 
filled into them in early life, what but a repetition 
of unjuft treatment could have induced them to enter- 
tain 
L 



I30 THE LIFE OF 

tain the mod didant thought of reparation ! The du- 
ties on glais, paper, leather' painters' colours, tea, Sec. 
the disfranchisement of lime of the colonies; the 
obdruction to the meafures of the legillature, in 
others, by the king's governors ; the contemptuous 
treatment of their humble remondrances, dating their 
grievances, and praying a redrefs of them, and other 
violent and oppreflive meafures, at length excited ar- 
dent fpirit of oppcfition. Indead of endeavouring to 
allay this by a mere lenient conduct, the miniftry 
feemed refclutely bent upon reducing the colonies to 
the moll flavidi obedience to their decrees. But this 
tended only to aggravate. Vain were all the efforts 
made ufe of to prevail upon them to lay afide their 
defigns, to- convince them of the impolTibility of carry- 
ing them into effed, and of the mifchievous cbnie- 
quences which mud enfue from a continuance of the 
attempt. They perfevered, with a degree of inflexibi- 
lity fcarcely paralleled. 

The advantages which Great Britain derived from 
her colonies were fo great, that nothing but a degree 
of infatuation, little fhort of madnefs, could have pro- 
duced a continuance of meafures calculated to keep up 
a fpirit of uneafinels, which might occafion the flight- 
ed wifh for a feparation. When we confider the great 
improvements in the fcience of government, the gene- 
ral difiufion of the principles of liberty amongd the 
people of Europe, the effects which thefe have already 
produced in France, and the probable confequences 
■which will refult from them ellewhere, all of which 
are the offspring of the American revolution, it can- 
not but appear drange, that events of fo great mo- 
ment to the happinefs of mankind, fhould have been 
ultimately occafionedby the wickednefs or ignorance of 
a Britidi mini dry. 

Dr. Franklin left nothing untried to prevail upon 
the minidry to confent to a change of meafures. In 
private converfations, and in letters to perfons in go- 
vernment, he continually expatiated upon the impoli- 
cy and injudice of their conduct towards America ; and 
and dated ; that, notwuhdanding the attachment of the 

colon ids 



DR. FRANKLIN. I3I 

colonics to the mother country, a repetition of ill treat- 
ment mufl ultimately alienate their affections. They 
Hftened not to his advice. They blindly perfevered in 
. their own fchemes, and left to the colonics no alterna- 
tive, but oppofition or unconditional fubmiffion. The 
latter accorded not with the principles of freedom, which 
they had been taught to revere. To the former they 
were compelled though reluctantly, to have recourfe. 

Dr. Franklin, fi nding all efforts to reftore harmony 
between Great Britain and her colonies ufelefs, return- 
ed to America in the year 1775 ; juft after the com- 
mencement of hoflilities. The day after his return 
he was elected by the legiflature of Pennfylvania a 
member of congrefs. Not' long after his election a 
committee was appointed, confiding of Mr. Lynch, 
Mr. Harrifon, and himfelf, to vint the camp of Cam- 
bridge, and, in conjunction with the commander in 
chief, to endeavour to convince the troops whofe term 
of inliftment was about to expire, of the neceflity of 
their continuing in the fields and perfevering in the caufe 
of their country. 

In the fall of the fame year he vifited Canada, to 
endeavour to unite them in the common caufe of li- 
berty ; but they could not be prevailed upon to cppofe 
the meafures of the Britilh government. M. Le Roy, in 
a letter annexed to Abbe Fauchet's eulogium of Dr. 
Franklin, itates, that the ill fuccefs of this negociation 
was occafioned, in a great degree, by religious animoit- 
ties, which fubfiiled between the Canadians and their 
neighbours ; fome of whom had at different times burnt 
their chapels. 

When Lord Howe came to America, in 1776 vett- 
ed with power to treat with the colonifts, a correfpon- 
dence took place between him and Dr. Franklin, on 
the fubject of a reconciliation. Dr. Franklin was af- 
terwards appointed, together with John Adams and 
Edward Rutiedge, to wait upon the commiffioners, in 
order to learn the extent of their power. Thefe were 
found to be only to grant pardons upon fubmiffion. 

Thefe 



13 2 THE LIFE OF 

Tbefc were terms which would not be accepted ; and 
the object of the commifiioners could not be obtained. 

The momentous queftion of independence was (hort- 
ly after brought into view ; at a time when the fleets 
and armies, which were fent to enforce obedience, 
were truly formidable. With an army, numerous in- 
deed, but ignorant of discipline, and entirely unskilled 
in the art of war, without money, without a fleet, with- 
out allies, and with nothing but the love of liberty to 
fupport them, the colonics determined to fe pa rate from 
a country from which they had experienced a repeti- 
tion of injury and infult. In this queRiou, Dr. Frank- 
lin was decidedly in favour of the meafure propofed, 
and had great influence in bringing over others to his 
fentiments. 

The public mind had been pretty fully orepared for 
this event, by Mr. Paine's celebrated pamphlet Common 
Sense* There is good realbn to believe that Dr. Frank- 
lin had no inconfiderable (hare, at leaft, in furnilhing 
materials for this work. 

In the convention which affembled at Philadelphia 
in 1776, for the purpofe of eftablifhing a new form of 
government for the (late of Pennfylvania, Dr. Frank- 
lin 'vaschofen prefident. The late conftitution of this 
fiate, which v.'*s the refult of their deliberations, may 
be confidered as a digeft of his principles of govern- 
ment. The fmgle legiflature, and the plural executive^, 
feem to have been his favourite tenets. 

In the latter end of 1776, Dr. Franklin was ap- 
pointed to affift in the negoeiations which had been 
let on foot by Silas Deane at the court of France. A 
conviction of the advantages of a commercial inter- 
•courfe with America, and a defire of weakening the 
Britifh empire by difmembering it, firft induced the 
French court to liflen to propofals of an alliance* 
But they fhewed rather a reluclance to the meafure, 
which, by Dr. Franklin's addrefs, and particularly by 
the fuccefs of the American arms againll general Bur- 
goyne, was at length overcome; and in February 1778, 
a treaty of alliance, offenfive and defenfive, was con- 
cluded ; 



DR. FRANKLIN. 133 

eluded ; in conference of which France became invol- 
ved in the war with Great-Britain. 

Perhaps no perfon cold have been found more capa- 
ble of rendering eiTential fervices to the United States 
at the court of France, than Dr. Franklin. He was 
well known as a philofopher, and his character was 
held in the higheft ellimation. He was received with 
the greateft marks of refpect by all the literary .cha- 
racters; and this refpect was extended amongfl all 
clalTes of man. His perfon al influence was hence very 
confiderable. To the e^eds of this were added thole 
of various performances which he publifhed, tending to 
eftablifh the credit and character of the United States. 
To his exertions in this way, may, in no fmall degree, 
be afcribed the fuccefs of the loans negociated in Hol- 
land and France, which greatly contributed to bring- 
ing the war to a happy concluiion... 

The repeated ill fuccefs of their arms, and more, 
particularly the capture of 'Comwallis and his army, at 
length convinced the Britiih nation of the impoffibility 
of reducing the Americans to fubjection. The tra- 
ding interefl particularly became very clamorous for 
peace. The miniitry were unable longer to oppofe 
their wifhes. Provincial articles of peace were agreed 
tOj and figned at Paris on the 30th of November, 

-1782, by L>w Franklin, Mr. Adams, Mr. Jay, and 
Mr. Laurens, on the part of the United States; and 
by Mr. Ofwakl on the part of Great Britain. Thefe 
formed the bafts of the definitive treaty, which was 
concluded the 30th of September 1783, and figned by 
Dr. Franklin, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Jay, on the one 
part, and by Mr. David Hartley on the other. 

On the 3d of April 1783, a treaty of amity and 
commerce, between the United States and Sweden, was 
concluded at Paris, by Dr. Franklin and the Gouht 
Von Krutz. 

A fimilar treaty with Pruffia was concluded in 

* 1785, not long before Dr. Franklin's departure from 
Europe. 

Dr. 

L 2 



134 THE LIFE OF 

Dr. Franklin did not fuffer his political purfuits to 
engrofs his whole attention. Some of his perform- 
ances made their appearance in Paris. The object of 
thefe was generally the promotion of induftry and csco- 
3)omy. 

In the year 1784* when animal magnetifm made 
great noife in the world, particularly at Paris, it was 
thought a matter of fuch importance, that the king 
appointed commiflioners to examine into the founda- 
tion of this pretended fcience. Dr. Franklin was one 
of the number. After a fair and diligent examination, 
in the courfe of which Mefmer repeated a number of 
experiments, in the pretence of the commiflioners, 
Ibme of which were tried upon themielves, they deter- 
mined that it was a mere trick, intended to impofe 
upon the ignorant and credulous — Mefmer was thus 
interrupted in his career to wealth and fame, and a 
moll iniblent attempt to impofe upon the human un- 
derftanding baffled. 

The important ends of Dr. Franklin's million being 
completed by the eftabliihment of American independ- 
ence, and infirmities of age and difeafe coming upon 
him, he became defirous of returning to his native 
country. Upon application to congrefs to be recalled, 
Mr. Jefferfon was appointed to fucceed him, in 1783. 
Sometime hi September of the fame year, Dr. Frank- 
lin arrived in Philadelphia. He was ihortly after 
chofen member of the fupreme executive council for 
the city ; and foon after was elected prefident of the 
fame. 

When a convention was called to meet in Philadel- 
phia, in 1787, for the purpofe of giving more energy 
to the government of the union, by reviling and amend- 
ing the articles of confederation, Dr. Franklin was 
appointed a delegate from the State of Penniylvania. 
He figned the conilitution which they propoied for the 
union, and gave it the mod unequivocal marks of his 
approbation. 

A fociety for political enquiries, of which Dr. Frank- 
lin was prefident, was eilablifhed about this period. — 

The 



DR. FRANKLlIf, I35 

The meetings were held at his houfe. Two or three 
effays read in the fociety were published. It did not 
long continue. 

In the year 1787, two focieties were efiablifhed in 
Philadelphia, founded on principles of the moft liberal 
and refined humanity — the Philadelphia Society for al- 
leviating the miseries of public prisons ; and the Pen?:- 
sylvania Society fir promoting the abolition of slave rj\ 
the relief @f free negroes unlawfully held in bondage, 
and the improvement of the condition of the African 
race. Of each of thefe Dr. Franklin was preikknt. 
The labours of thele bodies have been crowned with 
great fuccefs ; and they continue to profecute, with 
unwearied diligence, the laudable deiigns for which 
they were inftitutcd. 

Dr. Franklin's increafing infirmities prevented his 
regular attendance in the council-chamber; and, in 
1788, he retired wholly from public life. 

His conhVitution had been a remarkable good one. 
He had been little iubjeel to difeafe, except an attack 
of the gout occalionally, until the year 1781, when he 
was firit attacked with the iymptoms of the calculous 
complaint, which continued during his life. During 
the intervals of pain from this grievous difeafe, he 
fpent many cheerful hou.s, converfing in the moft a- 
greeable and initrucYive manner. His faculties were 
entirely unimpaired, even to the hour of his death. 

His name, as prefident of the Abolition Society, 
was figned to the memorial prefented to the Houfe of 
Keprefentatives of the United States, on the 12th of 
February 1789, praying them to exert the full extent 
of power vetted m them by the conftitution, in dis- 
couraging the traffic of the human tpecies. This was 
his iaft public ad. In the debates to which this me- 
morial gave rife, feveral attempts were made to juftify 
the trade. In the Federal Gazette of March 25 th 
there appeared an elTay, figned HiProricus, written by 
Dr. Franklin, in which he communicated a fpeech, faid 
to have been delivered in the Divan of Algiers in 
1687, in oppofition to the prayer of the petition of a 

fe& 



t> 



I36 THE LIFE GF 

feci called Eriko, or purifk, for the abolition of piracy 
and flavery. This pretended African fpeech was an 
excellent parody of one delivered by Mr. Jackfon of 
Georgia. AH the arguments urged in favour of negro 
flavery, are applied with equal force, to juflify the 
plundering and enflaving the Europeans. It affords, 
at the fame time, a dem on ft ration of the utility of the 
arguments in defence of the fkve trade, and of the 
ftrength of mind and ingenuity of the author, at his 
advanced period of life. It fumifhed too a no lefs 
convincing proof of his power of imitating the ftyle of 
other times and nations, than his celebrated parable 
againft periecution. And as the latter led many to 
iearch the Scriptures with a view to find it, io the 
former cauied many perfons to iearch the book-flores 
and libraries, for the work from which it was laid to- 
be extracted.* 

In the beginning of April following, he was attack- 
ed with a lever and complaint of his bread, which 
terminated his exiftence. r i he following account of 
his hit illnefs was written by his friend and pbyfician 
Dr. Jones. 

" i he (lone, with which he had been afHicted for 
feveral years, had for the Lift twelve months confined 
him chiefly to his bed; and during the extreme painful 
paroxyfms, he was obliged to take large doles of lau- 
danum to mitigate his tortures — (till, in the intervals 
cf pain, he net only amufed himielf with reading and 
convening with his family, and a few friends who 
viiked him, but was often employed in doing bufmefs 
cf a public as well as private nature, with various per- 
fons who waited on him for that purpofe ; and in every 
inllance difp'ayed, not only that readinefs and difpofi- 
tion of doing good, which was the dilhnguilhing cha- 
ra&efiftic of his hie, but ihe fulleft and clcareit poflef- 
fion of his uncommon mental abilities ; and not unfre- 
quently indulged himielf in thbie jeux cV esprit and en- 
tertaining anecdotes, which were the delight of all 
who heard him. "About 



This speech will be found in ihe volume of Essay 



DL FRANKLIN, X$!j 

tl About fixteen days before his death, he was feized 
with a feverrfh indifpo£tion, without any particular 
fymptoms attending it, till the third or fourth day 
when he complained of a pain in his left breaft, which 
increafed till it became extremely acute, attended with 
a cough and laborious breathing. During this (late, 
when the feverity of his pains fometimes drew forth a 
groan of complaint, he would obferve— that he was 
afraid he did not bear them as he ought — acknowledg- 
ed his grateful fenfe of the many bleflings be had re- 
ceived from that Supreme Being, who had railed him 
from fmall and low beginnings to fuch high rank and 
Confideration among men — and made to doubt but his 
pre fen t afflictions were kindly intended to wean him 
from a world, in which he was no longer fit to act the 
part afligned him. In this frame of body and mind 
he cantin»ed till live days before his death, when his 
pain and difficulty of breathing intirely left him, and 
his family were flattering themfelves with the hopes of 
his recovery, when an impoithumatioii, which had 
formed itfelf in- his lungs, fuddenly burft, anddifcharg- 
ed a great quantity of matter, which he continued to 
throw up while he had fufficient ftiength to do it; but, 
as that failed, the organs of refpi.ation became gradu- 
ally opprefled — a calm lethargic ftate fucceeded and 

on the 171b of April, 1790, about eleven o'clock at 
night, he quietly expired, cfofiug a long and ufeful life 
of eighty-f-L-r years and three months, 

" It may not be amifs to add to the above account, 
that Dr. Franklin, in the year 1735, nac ^ a fevere p!eu- 
rify, which terminated in an abfeefs of the left lobe of 
his lungs, and he was then aim oft fu (located with the 
quantity and fuddennefs of the difcharge. A fecond 
attack of fimilar nature happened fome years after this, 
from which he foon recovered, and did not appear to 
fuffer any inconvenience in his refpiration from thefe 
4ifeafe$," 



I38 THE LIFE OF 

The following epitaph on himself was written 
him many years previous to his death ; 

THE BODY 

of 

Benjamin Franklin, Printer, 

(Like the cover of an old book, 

Its contents torn out 

And ftript of its lettering and gilding) 

Lies here food for worms ; 

Yet the work itfelf (It all not be loft, 

For it will (as he believed) appear once more, 

In a new 

And more beautiful edition,. 

Corrected and amended 

by 

The Author. 



ExfRAcfs frcm the Last Will and Testament of Dk. 

Franklin. 

WITH regard to my books, thofe I had in France, 
and thofe I left in Philadelphia, being now aflembled 
together here, and a catalogue made of them, it is my 
intention to difpofe of the fame as follows : 

My hifrory of the academy of Sciences, in fixty or 
feventy volumes quarto, I give to the philofophical fo- 
ciety of Philadelphia, of which I have the honour to 
be prefident. My collection in folio of Les Arts tf 
Les Metiers, I give to the philofophical fociety, efta- 
blifhed in New-England, of which I am a member. — 
My quarto edition of the fame Arts and Metiers, I 

give 



DR. FRANKLIN. I39 

give to the library company of Philadelphia. .Such 
and fo many of my books as I fhall mark, in the laid 
catalogue, with the name of my grandfon, Benjamin 
Franklin Bache, I do hereby give to him : and iiich 
and fo many of my books, as I fhall mark in the faid 
catalogue with the name of my grandfon, William 
Bache, I do hereby give to him : and fuch as fhall be 
marked with the name of Jonathan Williams, I here- 
by give to my coufin of that name- The reiidue and 
remainder of all my books, manufcripts and papers, I 
do give to my grandfon William Temple Franklin. — 
My (hare in the library company of Philadelphia, I 
give to my grandfon, Benjamin Franklin Bache, con- 
fiding that he will permit his Brothers and fillers to 
fhare in the ufe of it. 

I was born in Bofton, New-England, and owe my 
.firft inftrucYionsin literature to the free grammar-fcbools 
eftablifhed there. I therefore give one hundred pounds 
fterling to my executors, to be by them, the furvivors 
or furvivor of them, paid over to the managers or di- 
rectors of the free fchools in my native town of Bof- 
ton, to be by them, or the perfon orperfons who fhall 
have the fuperintendance and management of the faid 
fchools, put out to intereft, and fo continued at in- 
terell for ever ; which intereft annually fhall be laid 
out in filver medals, and given as honorary rewards 
annually by the directors of the faid free fchools, for 
the encouragement of fcholarfhip in the faid fchools, 
belonging to the faid town, in fuch manner as to the 
•difcretion of the felecl men of the faid town (hail feem 
jneet. 

Out of the falary that may remain due to me, as 
prelident of the Hate, I give the lum of two thouiand 
pounds to my executors, to be by them, the furvivors 
or furvivor of them, paid over to fuch perfon or per- 
fbns as the legillature of this ftate, by an act of af- 
fembly, fhall appoint to receive the fame, in truft, to 
be employed for making the Schuylkill naviga-ble. 

During the number of years I was in bufinefs as a 
flationer, printer, and poihnafter, a great many fmall 

fuaia 



140 THE LIFE OF 

fums became due to me, for books, advertifements, 
poflage of letters, and other matters, which were not 
collected, when, in 1757, I was Tent by the affembly 
to England as their agent — and, by fubfequent ap- 
pointments continued there till 1775 — when, on my 
return, I was immediately engaged in the affairs of 
congrefs, ar.d fent to France in 1776, where I remain- 
ed nine years, not returning till 17 £5 ; and the laid 
debts net being demanded in fuch a length of time, 
are become in a manner obfelete, yet are nevevthelefs 
juftly due. — Thefe as they are flated in my great folio 
ledger, E. I bequeath to the contributors of the Penn- 
iylvania hoipital ; hoping that thefe debtors, and the 
descendants of fuch as are deceafed, who now, as I 
find, make fome difficulty of Satisfying fuch antiquated 
demands as juft debts, may however be induced to 
pay or give them as charity to that excellent inftituti- 
on. I am fenfible that much muft inevitably te loft ; 
but I hope fomething conliderable may be recovered. 
It is poffible too that feme of the parties charged may 
have exifiing eld unfettled accounts againfl me ; in 
which cafe the managers of the laid hofpital will allow 
and deduct the amount, and pay the balance, if they 
find it againft me. 

I requeft my friends Henry Hill, Efq. John Jay, 
Efq. Francis Hopkinfon, Efq. and Mr. Edward Out- 
field, of Bonfield, in Philadelphia county, to be the 
executors of this my laft will and teftament, and I 
hereby nominate and appoint them for that purpofe. 

I would have my body buried with as little cxpencc 
or ceremony as may be. • 

Philadelphia, July 17, 1788. 



CODICIL. 



DR. FR-ANKLLV, 141 



CODICIL. 

I Benjamin Franklin, in the foregoing or annexed - 
<1aft will and teltamenf, having further conlidered the 
fame, do think proper to make and publifh the follow- 
ing codicil, or addition thereto ; 

It having long been a fixed political opinion of 
mine, that in a democratical ftate there ought to be no 
offices of profit, for the realbns I had given in an arti- 
cle of my drawing in our constitution, it was my inten- 
tion, when I accepted the office of preGdent, to devote 
the appointed ialary to fome public ufe : Accordingly 
I had already, before I made my laft will, in July laft, 
given large turns of it to colleges, fchools, building of 
■churches, &c. and in that will I bequeathed two thou- 
fand pounds more to the ftate, for the purpofe of ma- 
king the Schuylkill navigable;, but undemanding fince, 
that luch a ium will do but little towards accomplish- 
ing fuch a work, and that the project is not likely to 
be undertaken for many years to come — and having 
^entertained another idea, which I hope may be found 
more extenfively ufeful, I do hereby revoke and annul 
the bequeft and dire& that the certificates I have for 
what remains due to me of that ialary, be fold towards 
railing the fum of rwo thoufand pounds fterling, to be 
difpofed of as I am now about to order. 

It has been an opinion, that he who receives an ef- 
tate from his anceftors, is under fome obligation to 
tranfmit the feme to pofterity. This obligation lies 
not on me, who never inherited a (hilling from any an- 
ceftor or relation. I (hall, however, if it is not dimi- 
nished by fome accident before my death, leave a con-- 
liderable eftate among my descendants and relations. 
The above cbfervation is made merely as fome apolo- 
gy to my family, for by making bequefts that do not 
appear to have any immediate relation to their advan- 
tage. 

I was 
M 



142 THE LIFE CF 

I was born in Bofton, New-England and owe my 
full inftru&oins in literature to the free grammar- 
fchools eftablifhed there. I have therefore confidered 
thoie fchools in my will. 

But I am under obligations to the Hate of MafTa- 
chufetts, for having, unafked, appointed me formerly 
their agent, with a handibme falary, which continued 
fome years: and although I accidentally loft in their 
fervice, by tranfmitting governor Hutchinfon ? s letters, 
much more than the amount of what they gave me, I 
do not think that ought in the lead to diminiQi my 
gratitude. I have confidered that, among artifans, 
good apprentices are moll likely to make good citizens ; 
and having my fe If been bred to a manual art, printing, 
in my native town, and afterwards aflifted to let up 
my bulinefs in Philadelphia by kind loans of money 
from two friends there, which was the foundation of 
my fortune, and of all the utility in life that may be 
al'cribed to me — I with to be ufeful even after my 
death, ifpoflible, in forming and advancing other young 
men, that may be ferviceable to their country in both 
thefe towns. 

To this end I devote two thoufand pounds fterhng, 
which I give, one thoufand thereof to the inhabitants 
of the town of Bolton, in Maffachufetts, and the other 
thoufand to the inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia, 
in truft, to and for the ufes, intents, and purpofes, 
herein after mentioned and declared. 

The faid fum of one thoufand pounds fterling, if ac- 
cepted by the inhabitants of the town of Bofton, fhall 
be managed under the direction of the felect-men, uni- 
ted with the minifters of the oldeft epifcopalian, con- 
gregational, and prefbyterian churches, in that town, 
who are to let out the fame upon interefl at five per 
cent, per annum, to fuch young married artificers, un- 
der the age of twenty-five years, as have ferved an ap- 
prenticeibip in the faid town, and faithfully fulfilled the 
duties required in their indentures, fo as to obtain a 
good moral charader, from at lead two refpe&able ci- 
tizens, who are willing to become fureties in a bond, 

with 



dr, franSlin, 143 

with the applicants, for the repayment of the money 
fo lent, with intsreft, according to the terms herein af- 
ter prefcribed ; all which bonds are to be taken for 
Spanifh milled dollars, or the value thereof in current 
gold coin ; and the managers fhall keep a bound book, 
or books, wherein fhall be entered the names of thofe 
who fhall apply for, and receive the benefit of this in- 
ftitution, and of their fureties, together with the fums 
lent, the dates, and other neceflary and proper records 
refpecYmg the bufinefs and concerns of this inflitution : 
and as thefe loans are intended to affift young married 
artificers in fetting up their bufinefs, they are to be 
proportioned by the discretion of the managers, fo as 
not to exceed fixty pounds flerling to one perfoit, nor 
to be Iefs than fifteen pounds. 

And if the number of appliers fo entitled fhould be 
fo large as that the fum will not fuffer to afford to 
each as much as might otherwife not be improper, the 
proportion to each fhali be diminifhed, fo as to afford 
to every one fome affiPiance. Thefe aids may there- 
fore be fmall at firft, but as the capital increases by the 
accumulated intereft, they will be more ample. And in 
order to ferve as many as poffible in their turn, as well 
as to make the repayment of the principal borrowed 
more eafy, each borrower fhall be obliged to pay with 
the yearly intereil one tenth part of the principal ; 
which fums principal and intereil fo paid in, fhall be 
again let out to frefh borrowers. And it is prefumed, 
that there will be always found in Bofton virtuous and 
benevolent citizens, willing to beftow a part of their 
time in doing good to the rifing generation, by fuper- 
intending and managing this inftitution gratis; it is 
hoped that no part of the money will at any time lie 
dead, or be diverted to other purpofes, but be continu- 
ally augmented by the intereft,in which cafe there may 
in time be more than the occafion in Bofton fhall re- 
o^ire ; and then fome may be fpared to the neigh- 
bouring or other towns in the faid Rate of MafTachu- 
fetts, which may defire to have it, fuch towns engag- 
ing to pay punctually the intereft, and fuch proportions 

of 



*44 THE LIFE OF 

of the principal annually to the inhabitants of the 
town of Bolton, if this plan is executed, and fucceeds, 
as projected, without interruption, for one hundted 
years, the fum will be then one hundred and thirty- 
one thoufand pounds ; of w r hich I would have the ma- 
nagers of the donation to the town of Bcfton then lay 
out, at their difcretion, one hundred thoufand pounds 
in public works, which may be judged of molt general 
utility to the inhabitants ; iuch as fortifications, bridges, 
aqueducts, public buildings, baths, pavements, or what- 
ever may make living in the town more convenient to its 
people, and render it more agieeable to {hangers re- 
torting thither for health, or a temporary refidence. 
The remaining thirty-one thoufand pounds I would 
have continued to be let out to intereft, in the manner 
above directed, for one hundred years; as I hope it 
will have been found that the inftitution has had a 
good effect on the conduct of youth, and been of fer- 
vice to many worthy characters and ufeful citizens. 
At the end of this fecond term, if no unfortunate ac- 
cident has prevented the operation, the fum will be 
four millions and fixty-one thoufand pounds fterling ; 
of which I leave one million and fixty-one thoufand 
pounds to the difpofition and management of the in- 
habitants of the town of Bolton, and the three millions 
to the difpofition of the government of the ftate ; not 
prefuming to carry my views any farther. 

All the directions herein given refpecting the dif- 
pofmon and management of the donation to the inha- 
bitants of Bofton, I would have obferved refpecting 
that to the inhabitants of Philadelphia ; only, as Phi- 
ladelphia is incorporated, I requelt the corporation of 
that city to undertake the management, agreeable to 
the laid directions ; and I do hereby veR them with 
full and ample powers for that purpofe. And having 
conudered that the covering its ground-plat with build- 
ings and pavements, which carry off molt rain, and 
prevent its (baking into the earth, and renewing and 
purifying the fprings, whence the water of the wells 
mult gradually grow worfe, and in time be unfit for 

ufe, 



DR. FRANKLIN* ^45 

ufe, as I 'find has happened in all old cities; I re- 
commend, that, at the end of the firil hundred years, 
if not done before, the corporation of the city employ 
a part of the hundred thoufand pounds in bringing by 
pipes the water of Wiflahickon-creek into the town, 
fo as to fupply the inhabitants, which I apprehend 
may be done without great difficulty, the level of thai: 
creek being much above that of the city, and may be 
made higher by a dam. I alio recommend making the 
Schuylkill completely navigable. At the end of the 
fecond hundred years, I would have the difpofition of 
the four millions and fixty-one thoufand pounds di- 
vided between the inhabitants of the city of Philadel- 
phia and the government of Pennfylvania, in the fame 
manner as herein diiedted with refpecl to that of the in- 
habitants of Bofton and the government of Maflachu- 
fetts. It is my defire that this inftitution mould take 
place, and begin to operate within one year after my 
deceafe ; for which purpofe due notice mould be pub- 
licly given, previous to the expiration of that year, 
that for thole whofe benefit this eftablifhment is in- 
tended may make their refpective applications; and I 
hereby direct my executors, the furvivors and furvivor 
of them, within fix months after my deceafe, to pay 
over the faid fum of two thoufand pounds fterling to 
fuch perfons as (hall be duly appointed by the feledt 
men of Bofton, and the corporation of Philadelphia, to 
receive and take charge of their refpe&ive fums of one 
thoufand pounds each for the purpoles aforefaid. Con- 
iidering the accidents to which all human affairs and 
projects are fubject in fuch a length of time, I have 
perhaps too much flattered myfelf with a vain fancy, 
that thefe difpofitions, if carried into execution, will be 
continued without interruption, and have the effects 
propofed ; I hope however, that, if the inhabitants of 
the two cities mould not think fit to undertake the 
execution, they will at leaft accept the offer of thefe 
donations, as a mark of my good will, token of my 
gratitude, and teftimony of my defire to be ufeful to 
them even after me departure. I will), indeed, that 

they 
M z 



I46 THE LIFE OF, &CC. 

they may both undertake to endeavour the execution 
of my project, becaufe I think, that, though unfore- 
feen difficulties may arife, expedients will be found to 
remove them, and the fcheme be found practicable. 
If one of them accepts the money with the conditions, 
and the other refutes, my will then is, that both lums 
be given to the inhabitants of the city accepting ; the 
whole to be applied to the fame purpofes, and under 
the fame regulations directed for the feparate parts ; 
and if both refufe, the money remains of couife in the 
mafs of my eftate, and it is to be difpofed of therewith, 
according to my will made the feventeenth day of 
July 1788. 

My fine crab-tree walking-fiick, with a gold head 
curioufly wrought in the form of the cap of Liberty, 
I give to my friend, and the friend of mankind, Gene 
ral Wafliington. If it were a fceptre, he has merited 
it, and would become it. 



EULOGIUM 



N 



BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, l. l. d. &o 

DELIVERED IN THE ROTUNDA, 

on the 21 st of July ', 1790, 
IN THE NAME OF THE COMMONS OF PARIS ; 

In presence of the Deputies to the Legislative Assem- 
bly y and of all the Departments in the Kingdom, the 
Mayor, the Commandant General of the National 
Guards, the Representatives of the Commons, the 
Presidents of the districts, and the Electors of the 
Cab it ah 



BY THE ABBE FAUCHET, 

NOW CONSTITUTIONAL BISHOP OF THE DEPART- 
MENT OF CALVADOS, AND A MEMBER OF THE 
NATIONAL CONVENTION. 



THE Reprefentatives of the Commons of Paris 

faffed a vote on the twenty-fecond of July, 1790, in 

conlequence of which it was ordered, that this Eulo- 

1 fhould be printed, and prefented to the National 

\.b!y of France, and the Gongrefs of America. 



[ 149 3 

EULOGIUM 

K 

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ; 

Pronouncedly the Abbe Fauchet', in the Name of the 
Commons of Paris. 



A 



SECOND creation has taken place ; the ele- 
ments of focicty begin to combine together; the moral 
univerie is now feen iftuing from chaos ; the genius of 
Liberty is awakened, and fprings up ; (he (beds her 
divine light and creative powers upon the two hemif- 
pheres : A great nation, aftonifned at feeing herfelf 
free, ftretches her arms from one extrenvty of the 
earth to the other, and embraces the firft nation that 
became fo: The foundations of a new city are created 
in the two worlds; brother nations haflen to inhabit 
it ; it is the city of mankind ! 

One of the firft founders of this univerfal city was the 
immortal Franklin, the deliverer of America. 

The fecond founders, who accelerated this great 
work, made it worthy of Europe— The legiflators of 
France have rendered the moft folemn homage to his 
memory. They have faid — " A friend of humanity 
" is dead ; mankind ought to be overwhelmed with 
" forrow! Nations have hitherto only worn mourn- 
ct ing for Kings ; let us affume it for a Man, and let 
" the tears of Frenchmen mingle with thofe of Ame- 

" rican c , 



IJO EULOGIUM ON 

u ricans, in order to do honour to the memory of one 
" of the Fathers of Liberty 1" 

The city of Paris, which once contained this philo- 
fopher within its wails, which was intoxicated with 
the pleafure of hearing, admiring, and loving him ; of 
gathering from his lips the maxims of moral legiflati- 
on, and of imbibing from the effufions of his heart a 
paffion for the public welfare, rivals Boflou and Phi- 
ladelphia, his two native cities (for in one he was 
born as it were a man, and in the ether a legislator,) 
in its profound attachment to his merit and his glory. 

It has commanded this funeral folemnity, in order 
to perpetuate the gratitude ai;d the grief of this third 
country, which, by the courage and activity with 
which it has profited of his lefTons, has (hewn itfelf 
worthy of having him at once for an infrru&or and a 
model. 

In felecYing me for the interpreter of its wifhes, it 
has declared, that it is Ids to the talents of an orator, 
than the patriotifm of a citizen, the zeal of a preacher 
of liberty, and the fenfibility cf a friend of men, that 
it hath confided this folemn function. In this point of 
view, I may fpeak with a holy confidence ; for I have 
the public opinion, and the teftimony of my own con- 
ference, to fecond my wifhes. Since nothing elfe is 
wanting than freedom, and fenfibility, for that fpecies 
of eloquence which this eulogium requires, I am -fatis- 
fied ; for I already po fiefs them. 

My voice fnall extend to France, to America, to 
pofterity ; I am now to do juftice to a great man, the 
founder of tranf- Atlantic freedom ; I am to praife 
him in the name of the mother-city of French liberty ; 
I myfelf alfo am a man ; I am a freeman ; I poilefs the 
lufFrages of my fellow-citizens : This is enough ; my 
difcourfe fnall be immortal ! 

PART 



DR, FRANKLIN. 151 



PART I. 

THE academies, the philofophical focieties, the 
learned affociations which have done themfelves honour 
bv infcribing the name of Franklin in their records, 
can bed appreciate the debt due to his genius, for ha- 
ving extended the power of man over nature, and pre- 
tented new and fublime ideas, in a ftyle fimple as truth, 
and pure as light. 

It is not the naturalilt and the philofopher that the 
orator of the commons of Paris ought to defcribe ; it 
is the man, who hath accelerated the-progrefs of foe i- 
al order ; it the legislator, who hath prepared the li- 
berty of nations ! 

Benjamin Franklin was born at the commencement 
of the prefent century, in Bofton, the capital of New- 
England. 

His father, perfecuted in his own country on ac- 
count of his religious opinions (for the Englifh, fo wa- 
vering in regard to religion, and who have fo often 
changed it by act of Parliament, at the nod of corrupt 
Kings, or fanatical chiefs, have always been, and are 
at this very day, perfecutors ;) his father, I fay, took 
refuge in the new world, where the church of England, 
not having as yet intruded her intolerant folicitude, 
permitted the liberty of confcience. 

His profedion wasobfcure ; but it is from this very 
obicurity that it is glorious for him to have elevated 
himfelf to the head of his nation, and to become the 
chief, as it were, of mankind. 

He who was deftined to be the founder and the pre- 
fident of the Philofophical Society of Philadelphia, the 
creator and the foul or." the Congrefs of America, was 
at firft brought up to the trade of a tallow-chandler. 
The celebrated orator Flechier began life among our- 
felves precifely in the fame manner : It may be confi- 
dered as a prodigy that, under the feudal ariftocracy, 
he lliould have ever become a rich Biftop ! The here- 
ditary Nobles, the titled families (it is but yefterday, 

as 



*5* 



EULOGIUM ON 



as it were they have ce a fed to exift in France,) regard- 
ing his elevation with a degree of furprife, mingled 
with (corn, were unable to conceive how a Mimfter 
dared to confer a Biihopric upon a plebeian. — " Duke," 
replied the Bifhop of Nifmes to one cf his contempo- 
raries, who reproached him with the occupation of his 
father, " this is in truth what diltinguifhes us from 
<c each other : If you had been born in the fame ftati- 
4i on that I was, you would have (till remained a maker 
" of candles !" 

Gentlemen, I have mentioned this anecdote, becaufe 
it is fomething in the manner of Franklin, He might 
have faid the fame thing to the Englifli Nobility, and 
all thofe infulters of merit, who think themfelves dif- 
penfed from poiTeiTing any, becaufe, in virtue of their 
family, they occupy the fir ft employments in the date, 
and obtain, even through the folly of their titles, all 
the honours of fociety. 

A very limited bulinefs, and one which prefented. 
no opportunity for the developement of the human fa- 
culties, could not be deemed worthy of the genius of 
Franklin. The art of printing had been fcarce eflablifh- 
ed in America ; he turned his views towaids this po- 
lite art, to which the deftiny of the human genius is 
attached. 

He laboured afiiduoufly in this profeflion, fiift at 
Bofton, afterwards at Philadelphia, and at length at 
London, where, while he acquired a coniiderable de- 
gree of perfection in this art, his mind, always of a 
thinking turn, made a variety of obfervations on the 
vices of the Engiifh government, and accumulated in 
filence the means of making typography more ufeful 
to his country, and to human kind. 

On his return to the capital of Pennfylvania, he 
was able to work at, direct, and even to fupply matter 
for thofe preftes, whence were to iflue that knowledge 
deftined to be the harbinger of the glorious day of 
liberty. 

Engiifh America was defigned, in the eternal views 
of Providence, and in the combinations already ripe 

in 



DR. FRANKLIN, 153 

hi the mind of Franklin, to fee the fun of juftice firft 
elevated above its horizon, a fun who was progreflive- 
ly to fpread his rays over all parts of the world. Its 
colonies were formed of men, who did not find them- 
i elves fufficiently free in England ; who would not de- 
pend, in regard to religion, but upon Heaven, and their 
own confcience ; in their morals, but upon civil equa- 
lity and good laws ; in their happinefs, but upon do- 
meftic fociety and the fimplicity of virtue. 

Penn, the firft man who arofe out of that focial chaos 
in which the nations had been plunged, founded Phi- 
ladelphia, the City of Brethren ; and which, in confe- 
rence of this title, which it hath ever fmce Co amply 
juftified, merits the appellation of the capital ©f the 
human kind. It is opened to human nature, without 
reftricuofi ; for the law which prohibits the entrance 
of the atheifl: and the fluggard, as not being men, does 
not prefent, as Franklin himfeif has very juftly obferv- 
ed, any more than the threatening exception, which 
cannot poffibly be parried into execution. 

" If," fays he, « an atheifl: exifted in any other part 
" of the univerie, he would be inftantly converted on 
* c entering into a city where every thing is fo admira- 
{; bly conducted; and if there was a fluggard, having 
" the three amiable fillers, Riches, Science and Virtue, 
u who are the daughters of Labour, continually before 
" his eyes, he would foon conceive an affection for 
" them, and endeavour to obtain them from their fa- 
f* ther." 

Delightful idea ! worthy of a fage philofopher, the 
object of our prefent homage 1 It, at one and the fame 
time, defcribes both Franklin and Philadelphia. 

As a Catholic pried, I fhall doubtlefs be reproached 
for delivering an eulogium on the Quakers, as I have 
heretofore been reproached for praifing the Janfenifts ; 
as I am reproached at this very moment for pronounc- 
ing a funeral oration on a Proteftant, who himfeif pro- 
feffed religious principles different from thole that were 
fpread over the face of his country. 

Thefe 
N 



154 EULOGIUM ON 

Thefe reproaches do me honour, for they ilTue from 
fanatic ifm, the greater! fcourge of fociety. Yes, I 
have praifed, and 1 now praife again in the name of the 
commons of Paris, hoth with eagernefs and affection, 
that philanthropic Janfenift, if they pleafe, hut, at the 
fame time, very Catholic and very holy preceptor of 
thofe who are born deaf and dumb ; the virtuous Phila- 
deiphians, fimple andfublime obfervers of univerfal fra- 
ternity ; the principal philofopher of Proteftantifm, the 
iage Franklin, who, without being perfect in his faith, 
yet poUelTed the perfection of evangelical benevo- 
lence. 

And here, Gentlemen, fince the queftion of univerfal 
toleration prefents itfelf, and enters of its own accord 
into the chain of ideas, which are fucce {lively to com- 
plete the character of the great moralift whom I now 
attempt to defcribe, permit me to ftop. After de- 
veloping the principles of this fage, I fhall purfuc my 
fubject, and fulfil the tafk you have impofed upon me. 

Men cannot be brethren, and confequently cannot 
be focial creatures, while one part reprove the other for 
the opinions which they have formed, and think them- 
felves, on account of this imaginary difference, to be 
feparated and divided from each other, as far as hea- 
ven is diftant from hell. 

No one can judge the confcience but God alone. 

He who affirms that man ought to believe, or not 
believe, this or that doctrine, often renders himfelf 
guilty of injuftice, and always of temerity. 

The firft genius of the univerfe, although inflamed 
with the molt, ardent love for truth, might embrace a 
religious error, and think himfelf bound by his con- 
fcience to defend it. Who is the audacious mortal, 
that pretends to have been able to calculate all the 
lights and fhades which might have intervened be- 
tween the mod fimple or the mod fublime minds, and 
who dares to fay — " all ought to believe like me J" 

Thefe are invincible prejudices to an uniformity of 
, faith : -The effects of education, the ideas infilled into 
,jthe human mind, during infancy and youth, thofe re- 
ligious 



DR. F R A N K L I N. 155 

li'gious defcriptions which infpire the imagination with 
awful terrors, the cuftomary practice of adoration, the 
ianction. of felf-love in behalf of received dogmas, a 
thoufand acts of virtue practifed by fmcere believers in 
a particular faith ; all thefe may inevitably detain the 
lnofl righteous and jnft men in the religion of their fa- 
thers, although it may be mingled with error. 

1 he fage himielf, who by means of the activity of 
his mind, and the force of his reflections," raifes himfelf? 
while he implores the Divine afriftar.ee, above vulgar 
ideas and popular fupertlitions, only floats in the im- 
meniity of eternal conceptions, and re-defcerds, with a 
holy fear, to the'elenlems of his primitive faith'; he does 
nothing more than feparate it from that impure mix- 
ture, by which fanaticifm, in his eyes, has evidently 
altered its venerable (implicity. Undoubtedly, the in- 
dolence that precludes reflection, the animal pafTion?^ 
the abufe cf our faculties, may retain, or draw us, in 
refpect to religion, into thole errors which are imputa- 
ble to us. But it appertains to us, and to Him only, 
who reads the heart, and probes the thoughts, to mark 
them down for reprobation, and to punifh them at the 
day of Judgment. 

Thofe actions alone, which £re manifeftly contrary 
to the laws of univerfal morality, are fubmitted to the 
infpection of men, and the fentence of fociety. The 
vicious, the bale, the wicked, even when they profels 
the true faith, are the enemies of humanity. The 
virtuous, the good, the benevolent, even while their 
faith is erroneous, are the friends and the benefactors 
of mankind. 

Such, Gentlemen, were the doctrines of the fage, 
whole memory we are now doing honour to ; and, if 
this were the place, it would be eafy to prove, as he 
himfelf has demonilrated, that the true fpirit of the 
gofpel confifts in indulgence, charity, brotherly love, 
cor, cord, peace, and univerfal unity. 

Notwithstanding this, M out of the pale of Catho- 
" lie faith,'' favs one, " there is no falvation for man- 
" kind!" 

This 



Ij6 EULOGIUM ON 

This maxim is true, Gentlemen ; but thofe who 
deduce from it the reprobation of all thofe who are 
of a different religion, and a frightful intolerance to- 
wards nearly the whole human race, are fanatics and 
impoflors. 

It is one of the avowed principles of the Catholic 
faith, that all thofe who ftriclly obferve the natural 
law, that is to fay, all virtuous men, appertain to the 
true church, and have Jefus Chrift, the light of fouls, 
for their matter and inipector. 

I pronounce this facred name with fo much more 
fatisfaclion in this difcourfe, as Franklin was accuf- 
tomed to invoke it with the mod refpeclful awe. 
But thofe who do not know, and who " pracYtfe natu- 
rally/' as the Apoftle fays his divine law, fhall be judg- 
ed after the teftimony of their own confciences, and 
arrive, by means of the miracles wrought through his 
grace, at the true light. Thus according to the prin- 
ciples of our religion, no ope can pronounce upon the 
reprobation of a iingle man, becaufe all men are in the 
hands of a Father who can, and who wilhes to, fave 
all ; be has exprefsly told us fo ; and, although his 
juftice may profcrlbe incorrigible fmners, he has left 
to himfelf the iinal determination of their doom, that 
Jo cur hearts may not be tortured in regard to any of 
oyj* brethren, who purfue along with us the paiTage to 
eternity. A doctrine truly Catholic, which places all 
men in the communion of our love, and points out to 
us the fages of all the countries in the world who have 
done honour to their lives by a feiies of uleful virtues, 
and thus become the friends of Gcd, and the adopted 
children of the uuiverfal church. 

This religion of virtue, by which we are inflrucled 
to love God and man, and which, according to the fa- 
cred Scriptures, is the only one pure and fpotleis, was 
^ilible in the heart of Franklin, and in ail his works. 

He preached it in the inftrudtions, which he coir^./ 
pofed, and which he printed at Philadelphia. He 
adorned them by means of a fimplicity, a plainnefs, 
and, at the fame time* an intelligence, a fenfibility, 

and 



D it* FRiNKLI N. I57 

arid a happy air of cahnnefs and tranquility, which 
affected every bofom. He excelled in thofe religious 
parables, of which the Scriptures furnifh fo many amia- 
ble and fublime examples. 

Permit me, Gentlemen, to quote one compofed by 
him againft intolerance and perfecution. In it he del- 
cribes, in the fame ftyie in which Geneiis is written, 
the Patriarch Abraham exercifing hofpitality towards 
an old man, who refufes to join him in thankfgiving 
to the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and 
earth. 

The ftranger tells him, that he will not adore any 
one but the God of his own country, and that he will 
on no account participate in any other worfhip. On 
this, the zeal of Abraham is kindled, he pufhes the man 
out of his tent, in the dead of night, and chafes him 
into the defert. In a fhort time, the voice of the Al- 
mighty is heard: " Abraham, where is the (1 range r r" 
On this, Abraham replies — " Lord he re fu fed to adore 
thee, " and I chafed the ihfidel away I" And God faid 
- — " for one hundred four fcore and eighteen years 
*> I have bore with this unbeliever ; I have nonriflied 
<> and clothed him all this time, notwithstanding his 
<l rebellion againft me, and yet thou, who art thyfelf a 
" iinner, could not bear with him for one night!" 

On this, Abraham cried out — n I have tinned, O 
Lord i let not thy anger fall upon me!" And he arofe 
and ran to the defert ; he fought the old man ; he 
found him ; he brought him to his tent; he treated 
him with kindnefs, and feat him away next morning' 
with many prefents. 

How much does this, Gentlemen, refemble the ftyle 
of the holy Scriptures ! every perfon participates in the . 
infpi ration with which it is written; we are tempted 
to fearch the book of Genefis, and wifh to believe that 
we fli all find it there ! Another allegory, compofed by 
Franklin, and borrowed from the art which he exer- 
cifed, offers a convincing tellimoney of his belief hi 
the immortality of the foul : the purification of it hi 
another life, and the refurrecYion of the body ; I al- 
lude 



I58 EULOCIUM W 

lude to lils epitaph, written by himielf.*' How ad- 
mirable, how fhort, and yet how full of fentiment, are 
the expreflions contained in every line ; evangelic 
faith and religious hope are here evident, and they 
forcibly point out the end of life, and the prize of 
virtue. 

It was thus that Franklin, in his periodical work?, 
which had prodigious circulation on the Continent of 
America, laid the facred foundations of focial morality. 
He was no lefs inimitable in the developement of the 
fame morality, when applied to the duties of friend- 
ship, general charity, the employment of one's time, 
the happinefs attendant upon good works, the necef- 
iary combination of private with public welfare, the 
propriety and neceffity of induliry, and to that happy 
and blifsful (late which puts us at eafe with fociety 
and with ourfelves. The " Proverbs of Old Henry," 
and " Poor Richard," are in the hands both of the 
learned and the ignorant ; they contain the mod fub- 
lime morality, reduced to popular language and com- 
mon comprehension, and form the catechifm of happi- 
nefs for all mankind. 

Franklin was too great a moralift, and too well ac- 
quainted with human affairs, not to perceive that wo- 
men were the arbiters of manners. He (trove to 
perfect their empire, and accordingly engaged them 
to adorn the fceptre of virtue with their graces. 
It is in their power to excite courage, to overthrow 
vice by means of their difdain, to kindle civifm, and 
to light up in every heart the holy love of our coun- 
try. 

His daughter, who was opulent, and honoured with 
the public efteem, helped to manufacture and to make 
up the clothing for the army with her own hands, and 
fpread abroad a noble emulation among the female citi- 
zens, who became eager to affift thofe by means of the 
needle and the fpindle, who were ferving the (late with 
their fwords and their guns. 

With 



See page 



DR. ? R A N K L 1 N. I59 

With the charm ever attendant upon true wifdom 
and the grace ever Bowing from true fentiment, this 
grave philcfopher knew how to converfe with the other 
lex, to inipire them with a ta(i:e for domeflic occupa- 
tions, to hold out to them the prize attendant upon 
honour unaccompanied by reproach, arcl indill the duty 
of cultivating the mil precepts of education, in order 
to teach them to their children, and thus to acquit the 
debt due to nature, and fulfil the hope of ibciety ! Iu 
mufi be acknowledged that, in his own country, he 
addrellcd himfelf to minds capable of comprehending 
him. 

Immortal females of America ! I will tell it to the 
daughters of Fiance, and they only are fit to applaud 
you ! You have attained the utmoft of what your fex 
is capable ; you poffefs the beauty, the fimplicity, the 
manners, at once natural and pure — the primitive graces 
of the golden age. It was among you that liberty was 
iirfl to have its origin. But the empire of freedom, 
which is extended to France, is about to carry your 
manners along with it, and produce a revolution in mo- 
rals as well as in policies. 

Aheady our female citizens, for they have lately be- 
come inch, are not any longer occupied with thofe fri- 
volous ornaments, and vain piealures, which were no- 
thing more than the amufements of flavery ; they have 
awakened the love of liberty in the bofoms of fathers 
of brothers, and of huhbands ; they have encouraged 
them to make the moft generous iacririces ; their deli- 
cate hands have removed the earth, dragged it along, 
and helped to elevate the immenfe amphitheatre of the 
grand confederation. It is no longer the love of vo- 
luptuous foftnefs that attracts their regard ; it is the 
facred fire of patriotiim. 

The laws which are to reform education, and with 
it the national manners, are already prepared ; they 
(hall advance, they fhall fortify the caufe of liberty by 
means of their happy influence, and become the fecond 
favicurs of their country* 

Franklin 



l6o EULOGIUM ON 

Franklin did not omit any of the means of bring 
ufeful to men, or ferviceable to fociety. He fpoke 
to all conditions, to both fexes, to every age. — This 
amiable moralift defcended, in his writings to the mod 
artlefs details, to the mod ingenuous familiarities, to 
the fir ft ideas of a rural, a commercial, and a civil 
life ; to the dialogues of old men and children ; full 
at once of all the verdure and all the maturity of wif- 
dom ; in fhort, the piudent leiTons arifing from the ex- 
pofition of thole obfcure, happy, eafy virtues, which 
form fo many links in the chain of a good man's life, de- 
rived immenfe weight from that reputation for genU 
us which he had acquired, by being one of the firft 
naturalifts and greateft philofophers in the univerfe. 

At one and the fame time, he governed nature in 
the heavens and in the hearts of men. 

Amidft the tempefts of the atmofphere, he directed 
the thunder; amidft the ftorms of fociety, he directed 
the pafiions. Think, Gentlemen, with what atten- 
tive docility, with what religions refpect, one mull 
hear the voice of a fimple man, who preached up hu- 
man happinefs, when it was recollected that it was the 
powerful voice of the fame man who regulated the 
lightning. 

He electrified the confciences, in order to extract 
the deftructive fire of vice, exactly in the fame man- 
ner as he electrified the heavens, in order peaceably to 
invite them from the terrible fire of the elements. He 
thus exercifed (O power immenfe of wifdom and of 
genius I) two attributes of the Deity. 

Figure to your own minds, this fage with the celef- 
tial phyftognomy which he pofieffed with that calm 
and auguft forehead, reuniting, in his own perfon, an 
authority over the natural and focial world ; does he 
not reiembie a beneficent God defcended upon earth, 
in order to extinguifh the wrath of heaven and teach 
virtue to mankind ? 

The leifure hours of Franklin were fo many acts of 
gocdnefs, which, if they were not too numerous, would 
form the chief charm of this oration. His amufe- 

ments 



DR. PRANKLIN. l6l 

mcnts confided in experiments which refembled pro- 
digies, and of which a Tingle infrance will fuffice to 
give fome idea. He himfelf, in a letter to one of the 
mod learned Members of the Royal Society of Lon- 
don,* has prefented the defcription of a feftival, which 
he gave to his friends and the public upon the borders 
of the Schuylkill. 

An electric fpark, without any other conductor than 
the water, ferved to light the volatile fpirit prepared 
to illuminate both banks of the river, at one and the 
fame moment. The viable fhock of the electric mat- 
ter, appeared, to the ravifhedeyes of the fpe&ators, to 
kill the the game and wildfowl prepared for the treat; 
culinary inftruxnents turned and drefled the viands by 
means of the heat anting from the ethereal flame, while 
the goblets, as if filled by magic, became replenished 
with the choiceft wines of Europe. 

In the mean time his guefts, compofed of the raofl 
learned men in Philadelphia, accompanied by a dif- 
charge of artillery from an electric battery, drank the 
healths of all the famous philofophers of France, of 
England, of Switzerland, of Holland, of Italy, and of 
Germanv, by turns, while the echoes arifmg from the 
neighbouring fhores fpread abroad and multiplied thefe 
lolemn falutations. The joyous acclamations of the 
people of a count; y formerly favage and deferted, but 
at prefent inhabited by numerous nations of new men, . 
who have formed alliance between fcience and morali- 
ty, reached to the ikies. 

You may eafily conceive, Gentlemen, what a mild, 
but fine afcendant, this fage, who infpired his citizens 
with a tafre for fuch noble pleafures, exercifed over 
their minds! Not a (ingle moment did he lofe in the 
•ccurie of his whole life ; not one of his thoughts but 
what tended to the public welfare ; not one of his 
laborious or of his leifure hours which did not fay men, 
" It is thus that exiflence becomes valuable, it is thus 
i( that mankind become happy 1" 

I have 



* Mr. Collinson. 



l62 EULOGIUM ON 

I have not as yet attempted to paint any thing more 
than the philosopher, who, by the force of his ideas r 
and the communication of his ientiments, bellowed a 
charm unknown before, and a new activity upon focial 
morality. 

Franklin had formed men : He had conceived dill 
more noble proje&s — he wi (lied to create citizens. He 
had already completed the balls, which is morality, he 
determined upon this to elevate the column of legifla- 
tion. It is now the legislator whom I mud exhibit, 
it is the elecVician of nations that is about to begin 
his operations; it is he who compofed and completed 
the moll charming ntodcl of liberty that was ever pre- 
fcnted.tu the univej-ie ; and it is to Fiance, now be- 
come free, it is before her tint iegiflvture that I am 
ambitious of exhibiting this piclure; it will awaken 
flaves ; it will tranfport Frenchmen ! 



p a r r ii. 



" Traveller, inform Sparta that we have died In • 
" obedience to her holy laws." 

This iiifcription over the bodies cf thofe who per- 
ifhed at Thermopylae, is the mod fuperb monument 
that was ever erected to the honour of Greece ; It 
proves that antiquity recognized citizens in an angle 
of the world. 

The city of Lacedemon, the only one which merits 
that appellation, on account of atioaoftfre 

three powers which organized its g - : (for the 

anarchy of Athens, and the war of i [meats in 

Kome, prohibit them, although in other refpe&s im- 
mortal from enjoying this Angular honour,) the city of 
Lacedemon was deftined to endure but a fhort time, 
*br it had not humanity for its baiis. Mankind them- 

felves 



DR. FK AN KLIN. 163 

felves were not as yet acquainted with it. It was ne- 
cefiary that whole ages lhculd firft elapfe : and the 
Spartans, citizens without being men, were to he an- 
nihilated by the force of Nature, who does not long- 
tolerate whatever contradicts her laws. 

Methinks 1 now behold a more noble monument 
erecled between the old and the new world : It riles 
out of the bofom of the Atlantic ocean ; it looks en 
one fide towards Europe, and on the other towards 
America : the image of the augufi: Franklin Unmounts 
it, and points out the following infeription : u Men, 
" love your fellow-men 1 Be free ! Promote commerce 
u and the arts; but, above all, cultivate humanity." 

Legiflator of mankind ! thy countrymen, the Ame- 
ricans, obey thee ; France fattens to thy voice, ihe re- 
peats thy accents ; the univerfe awakes at the found I 

The light fcattered over the world by the philofo- 
pher of nature, from the city of Philadelphia, not only 
excited the fcii filiations of private, but it alio kind- 
led the fire of public, virtue which compofes the life 
of nations. 

From the banks of the Delaware and the Schuyl- 
kill, Franklin attemively furveyed the conduct of Eng- 
land, marked her errors and her imprudence, aroufed 
that juft difcontent which her cruelties infphed, ob- 
ferved how far the patience of the people could be 
flretched, reinforced the principles of liberty, but yet 
preached up peace and moderation, until that day 
fhould arrive, in which violence and injullice were no 
longer to be fuffered, and a revolution was to be ex- 
pected as an inevitable event. His wifdom prophefied 
the approach of liberty, and accomplimed it; his fel- 
low-countrymen, the Americans who felt the iron 
hand of defpotifm, but yet icarcely dreamed of inde- 
pendence, were already, in the calculations of his geni- 
us, the firft free citizens of the univerfe. 

The minifters of England were well acquainted with 
the afcendency of this great man, and were alarmed at 
his influence. In conformity to their fyfiem of cor- 
ruption, they were determined to bring -him over to 

their 



164 EULOGIUM ON 

their views, and were perfuaded that, by bellowing one 
of the lucrative employments upon him, which they 
had the difpofal of in the colonies, his private intereli 
would induce him to affift them in fubjugatirig his 
countrymen. 

He was accordingly appointed Director General of 
the Poll Offi.ce belonging to the Englifh colonies in 
America.* 

In this employment he perceived that he could be 
ufeful to the people and to himfelf ; for it furnifhed 
him with a better opportunity of communicating his 
principles throughout the continent. He well knew 
that his labours would accelerate the freedom of Ame- 
rica ; he was authorifed by his office to viiit all the 
provinces without the lead fufpicion whatever ; he 
thus was enabled to found the difpofnions of the inha- 
bitants, to augment their horror tor opnreiTion, and to 
induce them to reconquer the rights of man and of 
citizens. 

Franklin undoubtedly fore fa w, while deftroying an 
oppreflive government, the favours of which he turned 
to the public advantage, that he ihould make great ia- 
crifices in regard to his own private intereft ; but bis 
natural iimplicity and prudent ceconomy hr;d enabled 
him to accumulate a fortune fuiticient to infure his 
independence ; and he always dreaded great opulence, 
hitherto himfelf or his feilow-citiaens. 

He had always two great ideas in contemplation ; 
The fiid was, to elevate England and all her colonies 
to the principles of civil liberty ; and if that did not 
happen, at leafl to give freedom to his native country. 
Had the former icheme fucceeded (and it gave him 
the greater degree of pleaiure,) the parliament of Eng- 
land was to have had a full national and colonial re- 
prefentation. The King was to have carried the legal 
wifhes of the fellow-citizens of the two continents in- 
to 



Hewas entrusted with the soutbern\departmento:uj. 



D K. IRANKLIN. 165 

execution, and the perfect combination of the legifla- 
tive power of all, and the executive power of one, 
would have realized to Great Britain that noble 
conftitution deftined to form the happinefs of France. 
But if it were impoflible thus to infure the felicity 
of the whole empire, and if the fyftem of colonial 
oppreiTion was to be continued, then he thought that 
a grand example ought to be fet by .America to the 
world, that the caule of the people ought to be aven- 
ged, and that Liberty ought to hoi ft her ftandard in a- 
nother hemifphere. 

Thus all the views of this great man were in per- 
fect coincidence with the principles of truth and of 
juftice ; for whatever might be the laft determination 
of the oppreffors, they themfelves would either become 
citizens, or enable their fellow ilaves to become fo, 
by ertablifhing the fir ft free government that ever ex- 
ifted in the world. 

Such was the pofition of public affairs when Frank- 
lin was feat to England by the affembly of Pennfyl- 
vania, in order to defend the colonies againft the en- 
terprifes of the court. He did not diffemble his opi- 
nions to the Englifh miniftry, who, at that period, 
were employing their ufual perfidious arts of bribery 
and corruption, in order to exact feveral new and vex- 
atious imports from his countrymen. 

Franklin announced to them the infallible refult of 
their proceedings. 

The Americans were alarmed, and proterted with one 
accord againft this act of tyranny. Their conduct ap- 
peared to the generous patriots of England (where there 
are many good citizens, altho' they are not fuflfered ta 
rule the nation) to be dictated by the jurt rights deriv- 
ed from opprertion ; but it feemed to be the revolt of 
flaves, who wifhed to free themfelves from the authori- 
ty of a marter, in the eyes of the fervile minions of the 
fovereign, who are more numerous, and who are always 
employed by the government. 

Amidft thefe important conjectures, Franklin is or- 
dered to the bar of the Houfe of Commons ; he obeys. 

How 
O 



l66 EUIOGIUM ON 

How great appeared tbat man, the defender of liberty, 
oefore an ariftocracy who monopolize the independence 
of a nation ! He was unacquainted with the queflions 
which were to be put to him, but his mind was ever 
prepared. Not a Tingle vague idea, not an ulelefs or 
nnnecefiary word ; thoughts iimple, but vaft ; fenti- 
ments loyal, but yet generous ; the boldeft alTertions ; 
the moft convincing reaibns ; the moil pofitive deni- 
als, afforded no triumph to his enemies. With a 
mafculine eloquence and undifguiled truth, he proved 
all the firfu acts of the American insurrection to be le- 
gitimate, and alTerted that all the projects that could 
be fuggeded by Englifh violence, would be abortive, 
and without effect. 

" Either let us be free together,*' fays he, " or we 
>« fhall be fo without, and even in fpite of yon. If 
u you do not annul your opprefiive laws, we fhall con- 
M tinue to make new ones independent of ycu. If you 
** endeavour to fubjugate us, we fhall triumph. Your 
u armies ? They are not numerous enough ? Your 
" navy ? All the navies upon earth are not capable of 
u making us fubmit to your will. Make your electi- 
< 4 on between our love and our hate ; we have already 
* made our choice between the liberty that is to com- 
(i bine us, and thofe chains with which we are to be 
w manacled." 

This affords but a feeble image of the dignified con- 
duct of Franklin in the face of all England. Cyneas 
beheld at Rome, in that Senate which governed Italy, 
an affembly of gods, and trembled ! Franklin beheld 
at London, in that fenate which commanded the feas 
of two worlds, a corrupted legiflature, and w r as undif- 
mayed. The ambaflador of ThelTaly fpoke in the name 
of a King, and what was a King before the Roman 
people ! But the agent of Philadelphia fpoke as a 
man in the name of men, whom he was about to ren- 
der free ! and free men have ever been refpe&ed as the 
firft of human beings by the Englifh ! 

He retired honoured by the nation, but detefted 
by the Court^ convinced that a parliament fold to the 

miniftry 



DR. FRANKLIN. 167 

miniftry would {mite America with the fceptre of def- 
potifin, and fupport their wrongs by the fwords of 
mercenaries ; that his countrymen would be forced 
to defend their own rights, to confummate their 
independence, and to vindicate the caule of human 
nature. 

Returned to his native continent, he revolved all 
thefe ideas in his bofom at Philadelphia, Wafhington 
and Adams enter into his views ; the firft congrefs is 
convocated and avTembled ; Franklin, or rather the 
Genius of Liberty, prefides at it ; every thing is re- 
folved upon ; new laws are enacled, but the princi- 
ples of them already exift ; all the colonics are citi- 
zens ; the patriot troops are about to be called forth ; 

they are already formed all the citizens are fol- 

oiers. 

The philofopher of humanity, the friend of peace, 
.Franklin, had upwards of ten years before* prepared 
all the plans of the infurgent army. The number 
and order of the regiments and companies, the pay, 
the inflruclions, all the military details, written by 
his own hand two lustres before the infurrecYion, and 
depofited in the archives of Philadelphia, attcft at 
once the extent and forefight of his ideas. 

Advance, Englishmen ; arm your fleets ; pour in 
the warriors of your three kingdoms ; tranfport the 
mercenaries of Germany to America, now become 
free ; for Franklin prefides in her councils, and Wafh- 
ington regulates her armies ! Wifdom, and at length 
victory, declare again ft you. 

By means of thofe manceuvers which difplay at once 
the fkill and the ferocity of your bands of robbers, 
you redouble the energy of freemen, add to the 
horror againft tyrants, and enfure to the United States 
but greater triumphs. The contraft exhibited by the 
humanity of the citizens of America in the midft of 
moll of your mod difgraceful defeats, and the fury of 
your fervile troops in their flight but impious fucceffes, 
(ball change your glory to opprobrium, and the blood 
of a few peaceable men, immolated to your rage, fhali 

furnifh. 



l6S EULOGIUM ON 

furnifh the feeds of victory for the combatants of 
liberty 1 

I (hall not here enter into the expofmon of the 
fagacious conduct, the profound combinations, the un- 
expected refources, he invincible refiftanee, the deci- 
five adtions, the prodigies of glory, which have im- 
mortalized the campaigns of the armies of Inde- 
pendence. 

They did not pofTefs any metal, but iron ; any mi- 
litary knowledge, but courage ; any experience in 
combats, but a genius fitted for victory ; anydifci- 
pline proceeding from long previous ieparation, but a 
General, who was all of a fudden the creator of an 
army. 

From men who wifh to become free, from Frank- 
lin who direcls, from Washington who commands, 
what is not to be expected ? 

However, even iron at laft is wanting ; it is procu- 
red from Europe. Officers are not in iufficient abun- 
dance ; they are invited from France. 

Franklin, now in the feventieth year of his age, had 
juft returned from Canada, where he had been drawn, 
during the molt rigorous feaibn of the year, by the 
interefts of the revolution, and, in the courfe of his 
j .vumey, had traverfed, in company with Montgomery, 
the rivers and the lakes, at that time covered with ice. 
lie is now appointed to proceed to France, in order to 
auift the efforts of Deane, and invite thole fuccours 
which they were to procure from a generous people, 
who had fubmitted, during a dilhouourable peace, to 
a/1 the haughty pride, and all the intolerable outrages, 
of the Englifh miniitiy, 

He departs inftantly, although he did not polTef: a 
fmgle piece of gold ; for his country was deftitute 
of money. He arrives at Paris with a cargo of to- 
bacco, in the fame manner as when Holland deter- 
mined to become free, her deputies arrived at BrtuTels 
with a convoy of herrings, in order to pay their ex- 
pen ces. 

Admiration 



BR FRANKLIN 169 

Admiration preceded, attachment followed him. 
Every tongue celebrated his name ; every look was 
fixed upon, every heart leaped at the fight of him : 
Pie fpoke, he was liflened to, and he fucceeded. The 
treaty of commerce with the infurgents is pioclaimed; 
ammunition and warlike inftruments are fent from our 
ports — America receives them with gratitude ; the 
free men of the new, have now allies in the old world; 
they are (bon alio to have rivals, emulous to imitate, 
and, if poffible, to excel them. 

At the voice of Franklin, at the voice of glory, ap- 
pears young Fayette, or rather difappear in Europe! 
Shew thyfelf to America, attonifhed at thy noble da- 
ring ; France (hall not learn thy flight but with the 
news of thy firft victory in the country of liberty. 

The furious Englilh every where attacked our vef- 
fels; but they no longer pofieiTed the advantage of 
thole perfidious dratagems which they had formerly 
made ufe of, before a declaration of war. 

Our naval armaments were in readinefs : Orvilliers 
and Efraing command them. In one quarter* of the 
globe the Englifh fleet experiences an invincible re- 
finance, and finds its only relburce to confift in flight; 
to anotherf it meets with a lignal defeat; and the 
WefUIndia Iilands| are obliged to receive into their 
ports thofe troops which were deftined to conquer them. 
Paul Johns,* an American commander, takes feveral 
prizes upon the very coafts of Great Britain Rocham- 
bean leads the French legions in the United States ; 
La Fayettej is the hero of the two nations : Wafh- 
ington is the arbiter of victory. 

The 



1 This alludes to the engagement off Us bant. 

At Grenada. 
I Tobago, &c. 

^ * This officer, so celebrated during the American nvar^ 
died lately in great poverty at Paris. 

t The subsequent conduct of this General bas con* 
verted the eulogiums of the patriot British of Calvados 
into anathemas. 







z 



IyO IULGGIUM ON 

The independence of America is con furn mated ; 
England, in its turn, is conft rained to fue for peace. 
The foveieignty of a great people is acknowledged, 
and from the banks of the Seine, Franklin, the har- 
binger, the director, and the very foul of this fublime 
novelt in the univerfe, conferring all the glory upon 
thofe who had the heroifm of acquiring it by means 
of arms, receives with the calmnefs of a philofopher, 
the felicitations of America, of Fiar.ce, of the Engliih 
patriots themfelves, and of all thofe men who feel the 
goodlike workings of humanity. 

The Ibvereignty of the nation is eftablimed ; this 
then is the moment to perfect their laws. The am- 
bafTador of America was its legiflator : He had al- 
ready prepared, and he now tranimits to his fellow- 
citizens the conftitution of Pennfylvania, connects it 
with all the eftablidiments of the confederated dates. 

The rights of man are developed, for the fir ft time, 
in laws fimple and beneficent as thofe of nature the 
rights of citizens are elevated on the fundamental bafis 
of fociety. The organization of the public power is 
combined with the private intereft of every man, and 
the univerfal good of humanity, with the individual 
advantage of every patriot, and the general profperity 
of the country. 

The inftitutions of Franklin are unanimoufly hailed 
as the code of wifdom and beneficence. We have 
adopted them into the new laws of France, and we 
ought to regard their author as one of the founders of 
this facred conftitution, which is about to attain all 
the elevation of reafon and of juftice, all the perfecti- 
on of focial and natural order, and which will one clay 
be the Pharos of the human kind. 

Here, Gentlemen, the intereft of this difcourfe be- 
comes augmented. It is my intention to compare 
America become independent, with France now free, 
and to prefage, from thefe cir cum fiances, the deftinies 
of the univerfe. 

I have already faid, and I repeat it again — The 
Anglo-Americans were the firft great people who pof- 

iefied 



DL FRANKLIN. I*] 1 

IcPftd die plenitude of liberty ; the firft that prepared 
itfelf to enjoy the perfection of freedom is the French 
cation j and in both thefe points of view Franklm is 
the firft legiiiator of the world. Let the prefent and 
future generations hear and judge ! 

In Switzerland a fenato-ial ariitocracy domineers; 
in Holland the Stadtholdeiate tends towards defpo- 
tiiai ; in England the people poffefs a corrupt, and bat 
an inadequate, representation: i he MiniQer regulates 
the elections ; a Hoafe of Peers, arrells every thing at 
its will : the Court, by means of money, obtains mo- 
ney ; by money, iurFrages : In fhort, in whatever point 
oi: view you are pleafed to confider the public welfare, 
the King* hath an abfolute power over it. If there is 
a country in the world where there is a phantom of 
Liberty idolized by the people, and no real Liberty 
which they can love, it is there. Bjt this very phan- 
tom had hitherto fomething venerable in it. The 
imaginations of the Englifh, exalted by the tempora- 
ry glory of their country, beholding around her no- 
thing but nations of Haves, who wifhed to continue 
fuch, they, with good realbn, have looked upon them- 
felves, until now, as the people who poffefied the firft 
rank in the univerie. 

Franklin once laid to the Englifh nation, " Admit 
(i all the men who belong to your government in the 
(i different parts of the globe, to a free competition 
i* for, and an equal repreientation in your legiilature ; 
" Let the King alone fway the executive fceptre, and 
' never be permitted to ft retch it forth but in the 
4i name of thole laws made by the reprefentatives, and 
u contented to by the colonies and provinces ; you will 
" then poflefs the fupreme lbcial unity, and the grand 
" monarchy of liberty. The univerie will all ailimi- 
M late to your empire, or at leaft all the earth will be 
w eager to imitate fuch a beautiful model: you will 
'( thus have the glory of commencing the happinefs of 
" the world, and eniuring the fraternity cf the human 
« kind." 

He 



172 



EUL-OGIUK N 



He fpoke to thofe who were refolved to be deaf, who 
would not hear him, and who embraced nothing but a 
chimera of liberty in their own ifland, which they ob- 
(linately perfifted in fupporttng by a tyrannical domi- 
nation abroad. 

But America inclined her head, and liftened to his 
voice. France, although (till crouching under her old 
and heavy fetters, ruminating even then in her thoughts 
the great leffons of Mably and Rouffeau, lent an at- 
tentive ear and faid — (i Ihe moment will arrive, it 
" faft approaches, when that which England had not 
" the wifdom to undertake, I fhall have the glory to 
" execute. " 

In the mean time, the new States organize them- 
felves into a federate republic. Every other fpecies 
of government was impracticable. The perfection 
arifing from unity could not be expecled from a mul- 
titude of independent provinces, of which each pof- 
lefled the ibvereign right of adopting whatever form 
it pleafed. 

The mutual neceffity of allying and connecting it- 
felf together, fo as to form but one people, gave rife 
to the Congref?, which is.deftinecl to regulate thofe 
vafl: objects that intereft the whole of the States. 
Each province poueiTes its own proper legifiative af- 
lembly, and aifo an independent power of executing 
its own decrees. 

I repeat it once more, the Genius of liberty reigns 
theie in her full plenitude of glory ; the union is hap- 
py, but the unity is not abfclute, and cannot be lb. 
How is it poffible to inftitute a fupieme chief? Each 
of the United States has an equal right to it ; and 
mofl horrid difTenfions would inevitably refult from the 
ible idea of a King. 

The creation of a free monarchy, the rr.oft peifedl of 
all poffible governments, was referred for us. 

Hail, France ! vaft, yet united, country; rear up 
thy immerife ivdy ; break thy chains ; let the thunder 
of thy liberty fnap them in twain ; let the Baftile and 
all the fortreffcs of defpotiim fall and difappear ; let 

Fayette 



DR. FRANKLIN. 173 

Fayette pre fen t himfelf as the foldier of his country ; 
the fon of France, the pupil of Wafhington ; he fhall 
continue a citizen until his death : Let the elected re- 
presentatives of all the claftes of the empire, no longer 
form feparate orders, and let there be an abfolute equa- 
lity, and, with free competition of voices, a fole legif- 
lature. Let them fpeak in the name of the whole 
nation, and let the nation reply — " This is our will I'* 

Beloved chief of the French I Monarch, who, in 
fpite of thyfelf, haft hitherto pofTefied but the falfe 
grandeur of the nation, ceafe to be the powerlefs idol 
of a fmall and abhorred cast of opprefting defpots, and 
become the refpected fovereign of twenty millions of 
freemen. Afcend, and thou will be the firft Prince 
in the world, whoever poiTelTed that glory — afcend the 
throne of the laws, and fee not, within the large hori- 
zon of this empire, aught but that liberty which gives 
and maintains thee in full povTeiilon of thy all power- 
ful fceptre. Thou governeft citizens ; thou ruleft 
over men ; thou arc a King, and the only one upon 
earth ! 

This perfection of human genius has hitherto been 
wanting ; it was neceffary that France mould arife in 
order to reiblve the problem of ages, to organize focial 
orxkr, and in abfciute unity, and to prefent to her a 
chief imps (Table as a Divinity, and, like him, invaria- 
ble in his iuftice ! 

Eternal Ruler of human occurrences! who, accord- 
ing to thy promife, wilt difpofe every thing in favour 
of our infant liberty,* it is thou who haft accumulated 
in fi fence thofe remarkable, prodigious and miraculous 
events, in order to operate the creation of our happi- 
nefs. 

But, in the combination of all thy benefits, the 
greateft is, that thou haft given us a Franklin, and 
connedled us with an America; the moil propitious, 

is 



* Tu autetn eliminator virttUis 
rent la dlsponis nos. Sap, 12, 18. 



174 EULOGIUM, &X. 

is that thou haft placed in the balance of the deftinies, 
the genius of the National AfTembly, and the patriot- 
ilm of Bailly* and La Fayette ; the moft happy is, 
that thou hail in one day given liberty to the capital 
and the provinces, and diipoled a King to embrace it. 
O memorable fuccefs ! The furrounding nations 
can fcarce give credit to the truth of it ; but they be- 
gin to be moved at the fight ; their doubts feem to evan 
porate, and they at length believe that they may be 

Tyrants tremble ; their reign has patted away ; we 
have now brotheis in fentiment over all the earth. But 
a little longer, and, in a mutual independence and 
equal affection, the nations of the unrverie will be 
afloni flied at being happy, and at finding themfelves 
Frenchmen ! 

Venerable old man, auguft philofopher, legiflator 
of the felicity of thy country, prophet of the fraternity 
of the human race, what extatic happinefs embellifhed 
the end of thy career ! From thy fortunate afylum, 
and in the midfl of thy brothers who enjoyed in tran- 
quility the fruit cf thy virtues, and the luccefs of thy 
genius, thou haft fuilg longs of deliverance. The laft 
looks which thou cad around thee, beheld America 
happy, France, on the other fide of the ocean, free, 
and a lure indication of the approaching freedom and 
happinefs of the world. 

The United States, looking upon themfelves as thy 
children, have bewailed the death of the father of their 
republic: France, thy family by adoption, has honour- 
ed thee as the founder of her laws; and the human 
race has revered thee as the univerfal patriarch who 
has formed the alliance of nature with fociety. Thy 
remembrance belongs to ail ages ; thy memory to all 
nations ; thy glory to eternity I 



* Then Mayor of Paris* 



C '75 1 



:jr.:j?f.;.jcr.jx..^T;aT;.jf;.;rf..:je?:::H..:xf..;: 

ESSAYS, 

HUMOUROUS, MORAL, AND 
LITERARY, &c. 



Yc 



ON EARLY MARRIAGES. 

TO JOHN ALLEYNE, ESQ^ 
DEAR JACK, 



OU defire, you fay, my impartial thoughts on the 
fubjedt of an early marriage, by way of aniwer to the 
numberlefs objections that have been made by nume- 
rous peribns to your own. You may remember when 
you confulted me on the occafion, that I thought 
youth on both fides to be no objection. Indeed, from 
the marriages that have fallen under my obfervation, 
I am rather inclined to think, that early ones ft and 
the bell chance of happinefs. The temper and habits 
of the young arc not yet become fo flifF and uncom- 
plying, as when more advanced in life ; they form more 
eafily to each other, and hence many occafions of dif- 
gu flare removed. And if youth has lefs of that pru- 
dence which is neceflary to manage a family, yet the 
parents and elder friends of young married peribns are 
generally at hand to afford their advice, which amply 
gl fupplies 



1*]6 ESSAYS. 

fupplies that defecl: ; and by early marriage, youth is 
iboner formed to regular and ufeful life ; and poflibly 
ibme of thole accidents or connections, that might 
have injured the conftitution or reputation, or both, 
are thereby'happily prevented. Particular circumftances 
of particular perfons, may pofiibly fometimes make it 
prudent to delay entering into that ftate ; but in ge- 
neral, when nature has rendered our bodies fit for it, 
the preemption is in nature's favour, that (he has not 
judged amiis in making us detiie it. Late marriages 
are often attended, too, with this further inconveni- 
ence, that there is not the fame chance that the pa- 
rent fhall live to fee their offspring educated. " Late 
children," fays the Spanifh proverb, M are early or- 
phans." A melancholy reflection to thofe whofe cafe 
it may be! With us in America, marriages are ge- 
nerally in the morning of life ; our children are there- 
fore educated and fettled in the woild by noon ; and 
thus, our bufinefs being done, we have an afternoon 
and evening of chearful leifure to ourfelves, fuch as our 
friend at prefent enjoys. By thefe early marriages we 
are blefied with more children ; and from the mode 
among us, founded by nature, of eve: y mother fuck- 
ling and nurfmg her own child, more cf them are 
railed. Thence the fwift progrefs of population among 
us, unparalleled in Europe. In fine, I am glad you 
are married, and congratulate you molt cordially upon 
it. You are now in the way of becoming a ufeful 
citizen ; and you have e leaped the unnatural flate of 
celibacy for life — the fate of many here, who never 
intended it, but who having too long; pcflponed the 
change of their condition, find, at length, that it is too 
late to think of it, and fo live all their lives in a fitu- 
ation that greatly leflens a man's value. An cdd vo- 
lume of a fet of books bears not the value of its propor- 
tion to the fet : what think you ot the odd half of a 
pair of fchTors? it can't well do any thing ; it may pof- 
fibly ferve to fcrape a trencher. 

Pray make my compliments and beft wifhes accepta- 
ble to your bride. I am old and heavy, or I fhould 

ere 



ESSAYS. 177 

ere this have prefented them in perfon. I (hall make 
but fmall ufe of the old man's previlege, that of giving 
advice to younger friends. Treat your wife always 
with refpeel: ; it will procure refpect to you, not only 
from her, but from all that obferve it. Never ufe a 
flighting exprefiion to her, even in jeft ; for flights in 
jeft, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry 
earned. Be ftudious in your profeffion, and you will 
be learned. Be induftrious and frugal, and you will 
be rich. Be fober and temperate, and you will be 
healthy. Be in general virtuous, and you will be hap- 
py. At leaft, you will, by fuch condudl, (land the 
bell chance for fuch confequences. I pray God toblefs 
you both ! being ever your affectionate friend, 

B. FRANKLIN, 



ON THE DEATH OF HIS BROTHER, Mr. 
JOHN FRANKLIN. 



TO MISS HUBBARD, 



X CONDOLE with you. We have loft a mod dear 
and valuable relation. But it is the will of God and 
nature, that thefe mortal bodies be laid afide, when 
the foul is to enter into real life. This is rather an 
embryo ftate, a preparation for living. A man is not 
completely born until he be dead. Why then fhould 
we grieve that a new child is born among the immor- 
tals a new member added to their happy fociety ? We 
are fpirits. That bodies mould be lent us, while they 
can afford us pleafure aflift us in acquiring knowledge, 
or doing good to our fellow-creatures, is a kind and 

benevolent 
A P 



1/8 E S S A V S. 

benevolent acl of God. When they become unfit For 
thefe purpofes, and afford us pain inftead ofpleafure, 
inftead of an aid become an incumbrance, and anfwer 
none of the intentions for which they were given, it is 
equally kind and benevolent that a way is provided by 
which we may get rid of them. Death is that way. 
AVe ourfelve?, in ibme cafes, prudently choofe a par- 
tial death. A mangled painful limb, which cannot 
be reflored, we willingly cut off. He who plucks out 
a tooth, parts with it freely, fince the pain goes with 
it : and he who quits the whole body, parts at once 
with all pains, and poflibilities of pains and difeafes, 
it was liable tc, or capable of making him luffer. 

Our friend and we were invited abroad on a party of 
pleafure, which is to lafc for ever. His chair was rea- 
dy firft ; and he is gone before us. We could not all 
conveniently ftart together : and why fhouldyou and I be 
grieved at this, fince we are foon to follow, and know 
where to find him ? 

Adieu, 

B. FRANKLIN. 



TO THE LATE 



DOCTOR MATHER, OF BOSTON. 



REV, SIR, 

JL RECEIVED your kind letter, with your excel- 
lent advice to the United States, which 1 read with 
great pleafure, and hope it will be duly regarded. 
Such writings, though they may be lightly palled over 
by many readers, yet, if they make a deep impreffion 
on one a&ive mind in a hundred, the effects may be 

confiderable, _ 

Permit 



E SSAYS, 179 

Permit me to mention one little inftance, which, 
though it relates to myfelf, will not be quite uninter- 
eftingto you. When I was a boy, I met with a book 
entitled, " Eflays to do good," which I think was writ- 
ten by your father. It had been fo little regarded by a 
former pofTeiTor, that feveial leaves of it were torn out ; 
but the remainder gave me fuch a turn of thinking, as to 
have an influence on my conduct through life : for I 
have always let a greater value on the character of a 
duer of good, than any other kind of reputation : and 
if I have been, as you feem to think, a ufeful citizei , 
the public owes the advantage of it to that book. 

You mention your being in your feventy-eighth 
year. I am in my feventy-ninth. We are grown old' 
together. It is now more than lixty years fi :ce I left 
Bofron ; but I reniemfcer well both your father and 
grandfather, having heard them both in the p 
and feen them in their hcufes. The laft time I law 
your father was in the beginning of 1724 when I vifit- 
ed him after my firfb trip to Pennfylvania : he receiv- 
ed me in his library ; and on my taking leave, (hewed 
me a fhorter way out of the houfe, through a narrow 
paflage, which was crolTed by a beam over head. We 
were Hill talking as I withdrew, he accompanying me 
behind, and I turning partly towards him, when he faid 
haflily, « Stoop, Stoop!" I did not underftand him till 
I felt my hand hit againft the beam. He was a man 
who never miffed any occafion of giving inftrudtion : 
and upon this he laid to me : " You are young and 
have the world before you : floop as you go through 
it, and you will mifs many hard thumps." This ad- 
vice thus beat into my heart, has frequently been of 
ufe to me ; and I often think of it, when I fee pride 
mortified, and misfortunes brought upon people by their 
carrying their heads too high. 

I long much to fee again my native place ; and once 
hoped to lay my bones there. I left it in 1723. I 
vifited it in 1733, 1743, 1755, and 1763 ; and in 1773 
I was in England. In 1775 I had a fight of it, but 

could 



l8o ESSAYS. 

could not enter, it being in pofTeffion of the enemy. 
I did hope to have been there in 17S3, but could net 
obtain a difmiflion from this employment here ; and 
now I fear I fliall never have that happinefs. My bed 
wifhes however attend my dear country, u esto per- 
petua." It is now bleffed with an excellent conftitu- 
tion : may it lad for ever ! 

This powerful monarchy continues its friendfhip for 
the United States. It is a friendfhip of the utmod 
importance to our fecurity, and fhould be carefully 
cultivated, Britain has not yet well digeded the lots 
of its dominion over us ; and has dill at times fome 
flattering hopes of recovering it. Accidents may in- 
creafe thofe hopes, and encourage dangerous attempts. 
A breach between us and France would infallibly bring 
the Englifh again upon our backs : and yet we have 
fome wild beads among our countrymen, who are en- 
deavouring to weaken that connection. 

Let us preferve our reputation, by performing our 
engagements ; our credit, by fulfilling our contracts ; 
and our friends, by gratitude and kindnefs : for we 
know not how foon we may again have occafion for 
all of them. 

With great and fincere edeem, 
I have trie honour to be, 
lleverer.d Sir, 

Your mod obedient and 
mod humble fervant, 

Passy, May 12, } 

1784. > 

B. FRANKLIN", 



ESSAYS. 



181 



THE WHISTLE. 

A TRUE STORY. 

WRITTEN TO HIS NEPHEW. 



w. 



HEN I was a child, at feven years old, my 
friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers. I 
went directly to a (hop where they ibid toys for chil- 
dren ; and being charmed with the found of a whistle, 
that 1 met by the way in the hands of another boy, I 
voluntas ily offered him all my money for one. I then 
came home, and went a whittling all over the houfe, 
much pleafed with my whistle, but difturbing all the 
family. My brothers, and lifters, and coufins, under- 
(landing the bargain I had made, told me I had given 
four times as much for it as it was worth. i his put 
me in mind what good things I might have bought 
with the reft of my money ; and they laughed at me 
fo much for my folly, that I cried with vexation ; and 
the reflection gave me more chagrin than the whistle 
gave me pleafure. 

This however was afterwards of ufe to me, the im- 
preffion continuing on my mind: fo that often, when 
I was tempted to buy fome unneceflary thing, I faid 
to myfelf, Don't give too much for the whistle; and fo 
I faved my money. 

As I grew up, came into the world, and obferved 
the actions of men, 1 thought I met with many, very 
many, who gave too much for the whistle* 

When I law any one too ambitious of court favours, 
facrificing his time in attendance on levees, his repofe, 
his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, to at- 
tain 
P 2 



T82 essays. 

tain it, I have faid to myfelf, This man gives 
much for bis whistle. 

When I faw another fond of popularity, conftantly 
employing himfelf in political buftles, neglecting his 
own affairs, and ruining them by that neglect: He 
pays, indeed fays I, too much for bis whistle. 

If I knew a miferwho gave up every kind of com- 
fortable living, all the pleaiure of doing good toothers, 
all the efteem of his fellow-citizens, and the joys of 
benevolent friendfhip, for the fake of accumulating 
wealth : Poor man, fays I, you do indeed pay too much 
for your whistle* 

When I meet a man of pleafure, facrificing every 

laudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune, 

to mere corporeal fenfations ; Mistaken man, fays I. 

you are providing pain for yourself instead of pleasure. 

you give too much for your whistle. 

If I fee one fond of fine clothes, fine furniture, fine 
equipages, all above his fortune, for which he contracts 
debts, and ends his career in prifon ; Alas* fays ], 
be has paid dear* very dear for his whistle. 

When I fee a beautiful, fweet-tempcred girl, mar- 
ried to an ill-natured brute of a hufband ; What a pity 
it is* fays I, that she has paid so much for a whistle I 
In (hort, I conceived that great part of the mife- 
ries of mankind were brought upon them by the falfe 
eftinmes they had made of the value of things, and 
by their giving too much for their whistles* 



ESSAY 3. 183 



A PETITION. 

TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE SUPERIN- 
TENDENGY OF EDUCATION. 



JL ADDRESS myfelf to all the friends of youth, 
and conjure them to direct their companionate re- 
gards to my unhappy fate, in order to remove the pre- 
judices of which 1 am the victim. There are twin 
filters of us : and the two eyes of man do not more 
refemble, nor are capable of being upon better terms 
with each other, than my fitter and myfelf, were it 
not for the partiality of our parents, who make the 
moil injurious diftinclions between us. From my in- 
fancy 1 have been led to coniider my fitter as a being 
of more elevated rank. I was differed to grow up 
without the leaft inftruction, while nothing was fpared 
in her education. She had mailers to teach her wri- 
ting, drawing, mufic, and other accompliftiments ; but 
if by chance I touched a pencil, a pen or a needle, I 
was bitterly rebuked; and more than once have I been 
beaten for being auk ward, and wanting a graceful 
manner. It is true, my fitter affociated me with her 
upon fome occafions ; but fhe always made a point of 
taking the lead, calling upon me only from neceifity, 
or to figure by her fide. 

But conceive not, Sirs, that my complaints are in- 
ftigated merely by vanity — No ; my uneafinefs is oc- 
caiioned by an object much more ferious. It is the 
practice in our family, that the whole bulinefs of pro- 
viding for its fubfdtence fulls upon my lifter and myfelf. 
If any indifpofition fliould attack my filler — and 1 men- 
tion 



184 ESSAYS. 

tion it in confidence, upon this occanon, that fhe is 
fubject to the gout, the rheum atifm and cramp, with- 
out making mention of other accidents— what would 
be the fate of our poor family? Mull not the regret 
of our parents be exceflive, at having placed fo great 
a difference between filters who are fo perfectly equal I 
Alas! we mutt perifh from didrefs: for it would not 
be in my power even to fcrawl a fuppliant petition 
for relief, having been obliged to employ the hand of 
another in tranfcribing the requeft which I have now 
the honour to prefer to you. 

Gondefcend, Sirs, to make my parents fenfible of the 
injultice of an exclufive tendernefs, and of the neceflity 
of diftributing their care and affection among all their 
children equally. 

I am, with a profound refpeft, 
Sirs, 

Your obedient fervant, 

THE LEFT HAND. 



THE 

HANDSOME and DEFORMED LEG. 



JL HERE are two forts of people in the world, 
who, with equal degrees of health and wealth, and the 
other comforts of life, become the one happy, and 
the other miieiable. This arifes very much from the 
different views in which they confider things, perfons, 
and events ; and the effect of thole different views 
upon their own minds. 

In whatever fituation -men can be placed, they may 
find conveniences and inconveniences ; in whatever 

company; 



ESSAYS. I05 

company, they may find perfons and converfation more 
or lefs pleafing : at whatever table, they may meet 
with meats and drinks of better and vvorie tafte, dimes 
better and worfe d re fifed : in whatever climate, they 
will find good and bad weather : under whatever go- 
vernment, they may find good and bad laws, and good 
and bad adminiftration of thole laws ; in whatever 
poem, or work of genius, they may fee faults and beau- 
ties : in almofi: every face and every perfon, they may 
difccver fine features and defe&s, good and bad 
qualities 

Under thefe circumftances, the two forts of people 
above mentioned, fix their attention, thofe who are 
diipofed to be happy, on the conveniencies of things 
the pleafant pait of converfation, the well dreffed 
dilhes, the goodnefs of the wines, the fine weather, 
kc. and enjoy all with cheerful nefs. Thofe who are 
to be unhappy, think and fpeak only of the contrari- 
es. Hence they are continually discontented them- 
felves, and by their remaiks, four the pleafures of 
Society ; cfFend personally many people, and make 
themfelves every where difagreeable. If this turn of 
mind was founded in nature, fuch uahappy perfons 
would be the more to be pitied. But as the diipofiti- 
on to criticife, and to be difgufted, is, perhaps, taken 
up -originally by imitation, and is, unawares, grown 
into a habit, which, though at prefent ftrong, mayne- 
verthelefs be cured, when thofe who have it are con- 
vinced of its bad effects on their felicity ; I hope this 
little admonition may he of fervice to them, and put 
them on changing a habit, which, though in the exer- 
cife it is chiefly an act of imagination, yet has ferious 
confequences in life, as it brings on real griefs and 
misfortunes. For as many are offended by, and no- 
body loves, this fort of people ; no one (hews them 
more than the moft common civility and refpecl, and 
fcarcely that; and this frequently puts them out of 
humour, and draws them into difputes and contenti- 
ons. If they aim at obtaining fome advantage in 
rank or fortune nobody vvifhes them fuccefs, or wilt 

ftir 



l86 ESSAYS. 

ftir a ftep, or fpeak a word to favour their pretentions. 
If they incur public cenfure or difgrace, no one will 
defend or excufe, and many join to aggravate their 
mifconducl:, and render them completely odious. If 
thefe people will not change this bad habit, and con- 
defcend to be pleafed with what is pleafing, without 
fretting themfelves and others about the contraries, it 
is good for others to avoid an acquaintance with them ; 
which is always difagreeable, and fometimes very in- 
convenient, efpecially when one finds one's felf entang- 
led in their quarrels. 

An old philofophical friend of mine was grown, from 
experience, very cautious in this particular, and care- 
fully avoided any intimacy with fueh people. He had, 
like* other philofophers, a thermometer to (hew him 
the heat of the weather; and a barometer, to mark 
when ft was likely to prove good or bad ; but there 
being no inflrument invented to difcover, at firR fight, 
this impleaftng difpofition in aperfon, he, for that pur- 
pofe, made ufe of his legs ; one of which was remark- 
ably handfome, the other, by fome accident, crooked 
and deformed. If a ftranger, at the firft interview, 
regarded his ugly leg more than his handfome one, he 
doubted him. If he fpoke of it, and took no notice 
of the handfome leg, that was vuflicient to determine 
my philofopher to have no further acquaintance with 
him. Every body has not this two-legged inflrument : 
but every one, with a little attention, may obferve 
figns of that carping, fault-finding d;fpofition, and 
take the fame refolution of avoiding the acquaintance 
of thofe infected with it. I therefore advife thofe 
critical, querulous, difcontented, unhappy people, that 
if they wifh to be refpedled and beloved by others, and 
happy in themfelves, they ftiould leave off looking at 
the ugly leg* 



ESSAYS. 187 

CONVERSATION 

OF A 

COMPANY of EPHEMERA; 

JWITH THE SOLILOQUY OF ONE ADVANCED IN AGE. 

TO MADAME BRILLIANT. 



Y< 



OU may remember, my dear friend, that when 
we lately fpent that happy day, in the delightful gar- 
den and fweet fociety of the Moulin Joly, I ftopt a 
little in one of our walks, and {laid fome time behind 
the company. We had been (hewn numberlefs Skele- 
tons of a kind of little fly, called^'an Ephemerae, whofe 
fucceflive generations, we were told, were bred and 
expired within the day. I happened to fee a living 
company of them on a leaf, who appeared to be en- 
gaged in converfation. You know I underfland all 
the inferior animal tongues: my too great application 
to the ftudy of them, Is the belt excufe I can give for 
the little progrefs, I have made in your charming lan- 
guage. I liflened through curiofity to the difcourfe 
of thefe little creatures ; but as they, in their natural 
vivacity, fpoke three or four together, I could make 
but little of their converfation, I found, however, by 
fome broken exprefiions that I heard now and then, 
they were difputing warmly on the merit of two for- 
eign muficians, the one a cousin, the other a muscJbe- 
to ; in which difpute they fpent their time, feemingly 
as regardlefs of the (hortnels of life as if they had been 

lure 



l88 ESSAYS. 

fure of living a month. Happy people, thought I, 
yon live certainly under a wife, juft, and mild govern- 
ment, fince you have no public grievances to com- 
plain of, nor any fubject of contention, but the per- 
fections or imperfections of foreign mufic. I turned 
my head from them to an old grey-headed one who 
was fingle on another leaf, and talking to himfelf. 
Being amufed with his foliloquy, I put it down in wri- 
ting, in hopes it will like wife amufe her to whom I 
am fo much indebted for the molt, pleafingof all amufe - 
ments, her delicious company, and heavenly harmony. 
" It was," fays he, u the opinion of learned philofo- 
phers of our race, who lived and fiourimed long before 
my time, that this vaft world the Moulin Joly could 
not itfelf fubfiil more than eighteen hours; and I think 
there was fome foundation for that opinion ; fince, by 
the apparent motion of the great luminary, that gives 
life to all nature, and which in my time has evident- 
ly declined confide r ably towards the ocean at the end 
of our earth, it muir. then finifh its courfe, be extin- 
guifhed in the waters that furround us, and leave the 
world in cold and darknefs, necelTanly producing uni- 
verfai death and deftruction. I have lived feven of 
thofe hours ; a great age, being no lels than 420 
minutes of time. How very few of us continue fo 
long I I have feen generations born, fiouriih and ex- 
pire. My prefent friends are the children and grand- 
children of the friends of my youth, who are now, alas, 
no more I And I mult foon follow them ; for, by the 
courfe of nature, though {fill in health, I cannot ex- 
ioedt to live above feven or eight minutes longer. 
What now avails all my toil and labour, in amafiing 
honey-due on this leaf, which I cannot live to enjoy ! 
What the political flruggles I have been engaged in, 
for the good of my compatriot inhabitants of this bum, 
or my philoibphicai ftud.es, for the benefit of our race 
in general! for in politics (what can laws do without 
morals?) our prefent race of ephemerae will in a courfe 
of minutes became corrupt, like thofe of other and 
older bufnes, and consequently as wretched: And in 

philofophy 



ESSAYS. 189 

philofophy how fmall our progrefs ! Alas ! art is long 
and life is fhort ! My friends would comfort me with 
the idea of a name, they fay, I (halt leave behind me ; 
and they tell me I have lived long enough to nature 
and to glory. But what will fame be to an ephemerae 
who no longer exifts ? and what will become of all 
hiftory in the eighteenth hour, when the world itfelf, 
even the whole Moulin Jolj, (hall come to its end, and 

be buried in univerfal ruin ?" 

Tome, after all by eager purfuits, no folid pleafures 
now remain, but the reflection of a long life fpent in 
meaning well, the ienfible converfation of a few good 
lady ephemera, and now and then a kind fmile and a 
tune from the ever amiable Brilliant. 

B. FRANKLIN. 



MORALS of CHESS. 



JL LAYING at chefs is the mod ancient and moft 
univerfal game known among men ; for its original is 
beyond the memory of hiftory, and it has, for number- 
lefs ages, been the amufement of all the civilized na- 
tions of Afia, the Perfians, the Indians, and the 
Chinefe. Europe has had it above a thoufand years ; 
the Spaniards have fpread it over their part of America, 
and it begins lately to make its appearance in thefe 
ftates. It is fo interefting in itfelf, as not to need the 
view of gain to induce engaging in it ; and thence it 
is never played for money. Thofe, therefore, who 
have leifure for fuch diverfions, cannot find one that is 
more innocent ; and the following piece, written with 
a view to correct (among a few young friends) fome 
little improprieties in the practice of it, fhews, at the 
fame time, that it may, in its effects on the mind, be 

not 

Q 



I90 ESSAYS. 

not merely innocent, but advantageous, to the van- 
quished as well as the victor. 

The game of chefs is not merely an idle amufe- 
ment. Several valuable qualities of the mind, ufeful 
in the courfe of human life, are to be acquired or 
ftrengthened by it, fo as to become habits, ready on 
all occa&ons. For life is a kind of chefs, in which we 
have often points to gain, and competitors or adverfa- 
ries to contend with, and in which there is a v aft varie- 
ty of good and ill events, that are in fome degree, the 
effects of prudence or the want of it. By playing at 
chefs, then, we may learn, 

I. Foresight, which looks a little into futurity, and 
confiders the confequences that may attend an action ; 
for it is continually occuring to the player, u If I move 
this piece, what will be the advantage of my new 
fituation ? What ufe can my adverfary make of it to 
annoy me ? What other moves can I make to fupport 
it, and to defend myfelf from his attacks I" 

II. Circumspecti&n, which furveys the whole chefs- 
board, or fcene of action, the relations of the feveral 
pieces and fituations, the dangers they are refpectively 
expofed to, the feveral poffibilities of their aiding each 
other, the probabilities that the adverfary may take 
this or that move, and attack this or the other piece, 
and what different means can be uled to avoid his ftroke, 
or turn its confequences againfthim. 

III. Caution, not to make our moves too haftily, 
This habit is bed: acquired by obferving ftricUy the 
laws of the game, fuch as, " If you touch a piece, you 
w muft move it fomewhere ; if you fet it down, you 
" muft let it {land ;" and it is therefore beft that thefe 
rules fhould be obferved, as the game thereby becomes 
more the image of human life, and particularly of war ; 
in which, if you have incautioufly put yourfelf into a 
bad and dangerous pofition, you cannot obtain your 
enemy's leave to withdraw your troops, and place them 
more fecurely, but you muft abide all the confequences 
of your raftinefs. 

And, 



ESSAYS. 191 

And, laftly, we learn by chefs the habit of no* being 
discouraged by present bad appearances in the state of 
our affairs, the habit of hoping for a favourable change, 
and that of persevering in the search of resources* 
The game is fo full of events, there is fuch a variety 
cf turns in it, the fortuce of it is fo fubjecl to fudden 
viciflitudes, and one fo frequently, after long contem- 
plation, difcovers the means of extricating onefelffrom 
a fuppofed infurmountable difficulty ; that one is en- 
couraged to continue the cooteft to the lafr, in hopes 
of victory by our own ikill, or at lead of giving a (Tale 
mate, by the negligence of our adverfary. And who- 
ever confiders, what in chefs he often fees inflances 
of, that particular pieces of fuccefs are apt to produce 
prefumption, and its confequent inattention, by which, 
the lofs may be recovered, will learn n6t to be too 
much difcouraged by the prefent fuccefs of his adver- 
fary, nor to defpair of final good fortune) upon every 
little xheck he receives in the purfuit of it. 

That we may therefore, be induced more frequent- 
ly t® choofe this beneficial amufement, in preference 
to others, which are not attended with the fame ad- 
vantages, every circumftance which may increafe the 
pleafures of it fhould be regarded : and every action 
or word that is unfair, difrefpectful, or that in any way- 
may give uneafinefs, mould be avoided, as contrary 
to the immediate intention of both the flayers, which 
is to pafs the time agreeably. 

Therefore, firft, if it is agreed to play according to 
the ftrict rules : then thofe rules are to be exactly cb- 
ferved by both parties, and fhould not be infifted on 
for one fide, while deviated from by the other for this 
is not equitable. 

Secondly, if it is agreed not to obferve the rules 
exactly, but one party demands indulgences, he fhould 
then be as willing to allow them to the other. 

Thirdly, no falie mnve fhould ever be made to ex- 
tricate yourfelf out of a difficulty, or to gain an advan- 
tage. There can be nopleafure in playing with a per- 
fon once detected in fuch unfair practice. 

Fourthly, 



192 ESSAYS. 

Fourthly, if your adverfary is long in playing, you 
ought not to hurry him, or exprefs an)' uneafinefs at 
his delay. You fhould not Ting, nor whittle, nor look 
at your watch, nor take up a book to read, nor made 
a tapping with your feet on the floor, or with your 
fingers on the table, nor do any thing that may dis- 
turb his attention. For all thcfe things difpleafe, and 
they do not fiiow your ikill in playing, but your crafti- 
nefs or your rndenefs. 

Fifthly you ought not to endeavour to amufe and 
deceive your adverfary, by pretending to have made 
bad moves, and faying that you have now loft the 
game, in order to make himfecure and carelefs, arid in- 
attentive to your fchemes ; for this is fraud and deceit, 
not fkill in the game. 

Sixthly, you muft not, when you have gained a vic- 
tory, ufe any triumphing or infulting exprefiion, nor 
fhow too much pleafure ; but endeavour to confole 
your adverfary, arid make him lefs dilTaUsfied with 
himfelf, by every kind of civil exprelTion that maybe 
uied with tiuth, fuch as, rt You underftand the game 
?* better than I, but you are a little inattentive ;" or 
" you play too faft ; (i or you had the beft of the 
<; game, but fome thing happened to divert your thoughts, 
u and that turned it in my favour." 

Seventhly, If ycu are a fpe&ator while others play, 
obferve the mo ft pei feci ftlence. For if you give ad- 
vice, you offend both parties ; him againft whom you 
give it, becauie it may caufe the lofs of his game ; him 
in whofe favour you give it, becauie, though it be 
good, and he follows it, he lofes the pleafure he might 
have had, if you had permitted him to think until it 
had occurred to himfelf. Even after a move, or moves, 
you muft not, by replacing the pieces, fhow how it 
might have been placed better: for that difpleafes, 
and may occafton difputes and doubts about their true 
iituation. All talking to the players leffens or diverts 
their attention, and is therefore unpleafing. Nor 
fhould you give the leaft hint to either party, by any 
kind of noife or motion. If you do, you are unworthy 

to 



ESSAYS. I93 

to be a fpectator. If you have a mind to exercife or 
fhow your judgment, do it in playing your own game, 
when you have an opportunity, not in criticidng, or 
meddling with, or compelling the play of others. 

Laftly if the game is not to be played rigoroufly, 
according to the rules above mentioned, then moderate 
your defire of victory over your adverfary, and be 
pleafed with one over yourfelf. Snatch not eagerly 
at every advantage offered by his unfkilfulnefs or inat- 
tention ; but point out to him kindly, that by fuch 
a move he places or leaves a piece in danger andunfup- 
ported ; that by another he will put his king in a pe- 
rilous fituation, &c. By this generous civility (fo op^ 
pofite to the unfairnefs above forbidden) you may, in- 
deed, happen to lofe the game to your opponent, but 
you will win what is better, his eileem, his, refpect, 
and his affection ; together with the filent approbation^ 
and good-will of impartial fpectators. 



THE 

ART OF PROCURING PLEASANT DREAMS. 

INSCRIBED TO MISS***, 

Being written at her request. 



As 



3 a great part of our life is fpent in fleep, during 
which we have fome times pleafing and lometimes 
painful dreams, it becomes of fome confequence to ob- 
tain the one kind and avoid the other ; for, whether 
real cr imaginary, pain is pain, and pleafure is plea- 
fure. If we can fkep without dreaming, it is well 

that 



194 ESSAYS. 

painful dreams are avoided. If, while we fleep, we 
can have any pleafing dreams, it is as the French fay, 
tant gagnt) fo much added to the pleafure of life. 

To this end it is, in the firfl: place, neceffary to be 
careful in preferving health, by due exercife, and great 
temperance ; for, ifi ficknefs, the imagination is dif- 
turbed ; and difagreeable fometimes terrible ideas are 
apt to prefent themfelves. Exercife fhould precede 
meals, not immediately follow them; the firft promotes 
the latter, unlefs moderate, obftrucls digelVion. If, af- 
ter exercife, we feed fparingly, the digeftion will Be 
eafy and good, the body lightfome, the temper cheer- 
ful, and all the animal functions performed agreeably, 
Sleep, when it follows, will be natural and undifturbed. 
While indolence, with full feeding, occafion night- 
mares and horrors inexprefTible : we fall from preci- 
pices, are affaulted by wild beads, murderers and de- 
mons, and experience every variety of diftrefs. Ob- 
ferve, however that the quantities of food and exercife 
are relative things : thole who move much may, and 
indeed ought to eat more ; thofe who ufe little exer- 
cife, fhould eat little. In general, mankind, fmce the 
improvement of cookery, eat about twice as much as 
nature requires. Suppers are not bad, if we have not 
dined ; but reliefs nights naturally follow hearty fup- 
pers, after full dinners. Indeed as there is a differ- 
ence in confVitutions, fome reft well after thefe meals; 
it colts them only a frightful dream, and an apoplexy, 
after which they deep till doomiday. Nothing is more 
common in the newfpapers, than inflances of people, 
who, after eating a hearty fupper, are found dead a- 
bed in the morning. 

Another means of preferving health, to be attended 
to, is the having a conftant fupply of frefh air in your 
bed-chamber. It has been a great miftake, the keep- 
ing in rooms exactly clofed, and in beds furroundedby 
curtains. No outward air, that may come unto you, 
is fo unwholefome as the unchanged air, often breath- 
ed, of a clofe chamber. As boiling water does not 
grow hotter by longer boiling, if the particles that 

receives 



ESSAYS. I95 

receives greater heat can efcape ; fo living bodies do 
not putrify, if the particles as faft as they become pu- 
trid, can be thrown off. Nature expels them by the 
pores of the fkin and lungs, and in a free open air, 
they are carried off; but in a clofe room, we receive 
them again and again, though they become more and 
more corrupt. A number of perfons crowded into a 
fin all room, thus fpoil the air in a few minutes, and 
even render it mortal, as in the Black Hole at Cal- 
cutta* A (ingle perfon is faid to fpoil only a gallon 
of air per minute, and therefore requires a longer time 
to fpoil a chamber full ; but it is done, however, in 
proportion, and many putrid diforders hence have 
their origin. It is recorded of Methufalem, who be- 
ing the longed liver, may be fuppoied to have beffc 
preferved his health, that he flept always in the open 
air; for, when he had lived five hundred years, an 
angel faid to him : u A life, Methufalem ; and build 
" thee an houfe, for thou ihalt live yet five hur.dred 
" years longer.'' But Mettufalera anfweredand laid; 
" If I am to live but five hundred years longer, it is 
" not worth while to build me an houfe — I will fleep 
" in the air as I have been ufed to do." Phyficians, 
after having for ages contended that the fick fhould 
not be indulged with fern air, have at length dis- 
covered that it may do them good. It is theefore to 
be hoped that they may in time di 'cover like wife that 
ic is not hurtful to thole who are in healih ; and that 
we may be then cured of the aerophobia that at pre- 
fent diftreffes weak minds, and make them chooie to 
be (fined and poifoned, rather than leave open the win- 
dows of a bed-chamber, or put down the glafs of a 
coach. 

Confined air, when faturated with perfpirable mat- 
ter,* will not receive moie; and that matter mufi re- 
main 



* What physicians call the perspirable matter, is that 
vapour which passes off from our bodies^ from the lungs, 
and through the pores of the skin. The quantity of 
this is said to be five eighths of what we eat* 



196 



ESSAYS. 



main in our bodies, and occafion difeafes: but it gives 
ibme previous notice of its being about to be hurtful, 
by producing' certain uneafinefTes, flight indeed at fir ft,, 
fuch as, with regard to the lungs, is a trifling fenfa- 
tion, and to the pores of the fkin a kind of reftleflnefs 
which is difficult to deicribe, and few that feel it know 
the caufe of it. But we may recoiled*, that fometimes, 
on waking in the night, we have, if warmly covered, 
found it difficult to get afleep again. We turn often 
without finding repofe in any poiition. This figgetti- 
nefs, to ufe a vulgar expreflion for want of a better, is 
occafioned wholly by an uneafmefs in the fkin, owing 

to the retention of the perfpirable matter the bed 

clothes having received their quantity, ai-d, being fatu- 
rated, refufing to take any more. To become fenfible 
of this by an experiment, let a perfon keep hispofition. 
in the bed, but throw off the bed-clothes and fufFer 
frefli air to approach the part uncovered of his body ; 
he will then feel that part fuddenly refrefhed ; for the 
air will immediately relieve the fkin, by receiving,, 
licking up, and carrying off, the load of perfpirable 
matter that incommoded it. For every portion of cool 
air that approaches the warm fkin, in receiving its 
part of that vapour, receives, therewith a degree of 
heat, that rarefies and renders it lighter, when it will 
be pufhed away, with its burthen, by cooler, and 
therefore heavier frefh air ; which, for a moment fup- 
plies its place, and then, being likewife changed, and 
warmed, gives way to a fucceeding quantity. This is 
the order of nature, to prevent animals being infecled 
by their own perfpiration. He will now be fenfible of 
the difference between the part expofed to the air, and 
that which remaining funk in the bed, denies the air 
accefs : for this part now manifefts, its uneafmefs more 
difiinclly by the companion, and the feat of the uxi- 
ealinefs is more plainly perceived, than when the whole 
furnace of the body was affected by it. 

Here, then, is one great and general caufe of im- 
pleading dreams. For when the body is uneafy, the 
mind will be difturbed by it, and difag'eeable ideas of 

various 



ESSAYS. 197 

various kinds, will, in fleep, be the natural confe- 
quences. The remedies, preventative and curative, 
follow : 

1. By eating moderately, (as before advifed for 
health's fake) lefs perfpirable matter is produced in a 
given time ; hence the bed-clothes receive it longer 
before they are faturated; and we may, therefore, 
fi«ep longer, before we are made uneafy by their re- 
hifing ro receive any more. 

2. By ufing thinner and more porous bed-clothes, 
which will fuffer the perfpirable matter more eafily to 
pafs through them, we are lefs incommoded, fuch being 
longer tolerable. 

3. When you are awakened by this uneaGnefs, and 
find you cannot eafily fleep again, get out of bed, beat 
up and turn your pillow, (hake the bed-clothes well, 
with at lead twenty fhakes, then throw the bed open, 
and leave it to cool ; in the mean while, continuing 
and 1 eft, walk about your chamber, till your fkin has 
had time todifcharge its load, which it will do fooner 
as the air may he drier and colder. When you begin 
to feel the cold air unpleafant, then return to your 
bed ; and you will foo'n fall afleep, and your fleep will 
be fweet and pleasant. AH the fcenes preferred to 
your fancy, will be of the pleafant kind. I am often 
as agreeably entertained with them, as by the fcenery 
of an opera. If you happen to be too indolent to get 
out of bod, you may, inftead of it, lift up your bed- 
clothes with one arm and leg, fo as to draw in a good 
deal of frefh air, and, by letting them fall, force it 
out again. This, repeated twenty times, will fo clear 
them of the perfpirable matter they have imbibed, as 
to permit your fleepingwell for fome time afterwards. 
But this latter method is not equal to the former. 

Thofe who do not love trouble, and can afford to 
have two bed-:, will find great luxury in rifing, when 
they wake in a hot bed, and going into the cool one. 
Such (hiftings of beds would alio be of great fervice 
to peribns ill in a fever, as it refrefbes and frequently 
procures fleep. A very large bed, that will admit a 

removal 



198 ESSAYS. 

removal fo diftant from the firfl fituation as to be cool 
and fweet, may in a degree anfwer the lame end. 

One or two obfervations more will conclude this 
little piece. Care mud be taken, when you lie down, 
to difpofe your pillow fo as to fuit your manner of 
placing your head, and to be perfectly eafy ; then place 
your limbs fo as not to bear inconveniently hard upon 
one another, as for inftance, the joints of your ancles : 
for though a bad pofition may at firll give but little 
pain, and be hardly noticed, yet a continuance wilt 
render it lefs tolerable, and the uneaiinefs may come 
on while you are aileep and difturb your imagination, 

Thefe are the rules of the art. But though they 
will generally prove effectual in producing the end in- 
tended, there is a cafe in which the mod punctual ob- 
servance of them will be totally fruitJefs. I need not 
mention the cafe to you, my dear friend : but my ac- 
count of the art would be imperfect without it. The 
cafe is, when the perfon who defires to have pleafant 
dreams has not taken care to preierve, what is iiecef-- 
&ry above all things, 

A GOOD CONSCIENCE. 



ESSAYS. 199 



ADVICE TO A YOUNG TRADESMAN, 



WRITTEN ANNO 1784. 



To my Friend A, B. 

As you have desired it of me^ I write the following 
hints, which have been of service to me y and may, 
if observed be so to you. 



R. 



,EMEMBER that time is money. He that can 
earn ten (hillings a day by his labour, and goes abroad, 
or fits idle one half of that day, though he fpends but 
fixpence during his diverfion or idlenels, ought not to 
reckon that the only expence ; he has really fpent, or 
rather thrown away, five (hillfngs betides. 

Remember that credit is money. If a man lets his 
money lie in my hands after it is due, he gives me 
the intereff, or fo much as I can make of it during 
that time. This amounts to a confiderable fum where 
a man has good and large credit, and makes good ule 
ofit. 

Remember that money is of a prolific generating 
nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring* 
can beget more, and fo on. Five (hillings turned is 
fix; turned again, it is feven and three pence; and 
fo on till it becomes an hundred pounds. The more 
there is of it, the more it produces every turning, fo 
that the profits rife quicker and quicker. He that 
kills a breeding low, deftroys all her offspring to the 
thoufandth generation. He that murders a crown, 
deftroys all that it -might have produced, even fcores 
of pounds* 

Remember 



200 ESSAYS. 

Remember that fix pounds a year, is bat a groat a 
day. For this little fum, which may be daily wafted 
either in time or expence, unperceived, a man of cre- 
dit may, on his own fecurity, have the conftant poi- 
feffion and uie of an hundred pounds. So much in 
flock, briikly turned by an induftrious man, produces 
great advantages. 

Remember this faying, " The good paymafter is 
lord of another man's purfe." He that is known to 
pay punctually and exa&ly to the time he promifes, 
may at any time, and on any occafion, raife all the 
money his friends can fpare. This is fometimes of 
great uie. After indufhy and frugality, nothing con- 
tributes more to the raifing of a young man in the 
world, than punctuality and juftice in all his dealings: 
therefore never keep borrowed money an hour beyond 
the time you promifed, left a difappointment ihut up 
your friend's purfe for ever. 

The mod trifling actions that affects a man's credit 
are to be regarded. The found of your hammer at 
five in the morning, "or nine at night, heard by a cre- 
ditor, makes him eafy fix months longer ; but if he 
fees you at a billiard table, or hears your voice at a 
tavern, when you (hould be at work, he fends for his 
money the next day ; demands it before he can re- 
ceive it in a lump. 

It Ihesvs, beiides, that you are mindful of what you, 
owe ; it makes you appear a careful, as well as an ho- 
neft man, and that Hill increafes your credit. 

Beware of thinking all your own that you pofiefs, 
and of living accordingly. It is a raiflake that many 
people who have credit fall into. To prevent this keep 
an exact account, for fome time, both of your expences 
and your income. If you take the pains at firft to 
mention particulars, it will have this good effect; you 
will difcover how wonderfully fmall trifling expences 
mount up to large fums, and will difcern what might 
have been, and may for the future be faved, without 
occafioning any great inconvenience. 

In 



ESSAYS. 20I 

In fhort, the way to wealth, if you defjre it, is as 
plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two 
words, industry and frugality ; that is, wafte neither 
time nor money, but make the belt life of both. With- 
out indnftry and frugality nothing will do, and with 
them every thing. He that gets all he can honefUy, 
and faves all he gets, (neceffary expences excepted) 
will certainly become rich— if that Being who governs 
the world, to whom all mould look for a bleffing on 
their honeft endeavours, doth not, in his wife Provi- 
dence, otherwife determine. 

An OLD TRADESMAN. 



NECESSARY HINTS TO THOSE THAT 
WOULD BE RICH. 



WRITTEN ANNO 1756. 



T, 



HE ufe of money is all the advantage there is in 
having money. 

For fix pounds a year you may have the ufe of one 
hundred pounds, provided you are a man of known 
prudence and honefty. 

He that fpends a groat a day idly, fpends idly above 
fix pounds a year, which is the price for the ufe of one 
hundred pounds. 

He that waftes idly a groat's worth of his time, per 
day, one day with another, waftes the privilege of ufing 
one hundred pounds each day. 

He that idly lofes five {hillings worth of time, lofes 
five (hillings, and might as prudently throw five (hil- 
lings into the lea. 

R He 



202 E S S A Y S. 

He that lofes five millings, not only lofes that fum, 
but all the advantage that might be made by turning 
it in dealing, which* by the time that a young man 
becomes old, will amount to a confiderable fum of 
iEoney, 

, Again : he that fells upon credit, afks a price for 
what he fells equivalent to the principal and intereft of 
his money for the time he is to be kept out of it ; 
therefore, he that buys upon credit, pays intereft for 
what he buys ; and he that pays ready money, might 
let that money out to uie : fo that he that poffefYes 
any thing he has bought, pays intereft for the ufe of 
it. 

Yet, in buying goods, it is b^ft to pay ready money, 
becaufe, he that fells upon credit, expects to lofe five 
per cent, by bad debts ; therefore he charges, on all 
he fells upon credit, an advance that (hall make up 
that deficiency, 

Thofe who pay for what they buy upon credit pay 
their fhare of this advance. 

He that pays ready money, efcapes, or may efcape, 
that charge. 

A penny sav'd is two-pence clear ; 
A pin a day 9 s a groat a year. 



1HE WAY TO MAKE MONEY PLENTY IN 
EVERY MAN'S POCKET. 

XjlT this time, when the general complaint is that 

" money is fcarce," it will be an ad of kindnefs to 

inform the moneylefs how they may reinforce their 
pockets. I will acquaint them with the true iecret of 
money-catching — the certain way to fill empty puries 
— and how to keep them always full. Two fimple 
rules, well obferyed, will do the bufinefs. 

Firft, 



ESSAYS. 203 

Firft, let honefty and induftiy be thy conftant com- 
panions ; and, 

Secondly, fpend one penny Iefs than thy dear 
gain. 

Then (hall they hide-bound pocket foon begin to 
thrive, and wiU never again cry with the empty belly- 
ach ; neither will creditors infult thee, nor want op- 
prefs, nor hunger bite, nor nakednefs freeze thee. The 
whole hemifphere will fhine brighter, and pleafure 
fpring up in every corner of thy heart. Now, there- 
fore, embrace theie rules and be happy. Banifh the 
bleak wind? of forrow from thy mind, and live inde- 
pendent. Then (halt thou be a man, and not hide thy 
face at the approach of the rich, nor fuffcr the pain of 
feeling little when the fons of fortune walk at thy right 
hand : for independency, whether with little or much, 
is good fortune, and placeth thee on even ground with 
the proudeft of the golden fleece. Oh then, be wife, 
and let induftry walk with thee in the morning, and 
attend thee untill thou reached the evening hour 
for reft. Let honefty be as the breath of thy foul, 
and never forget to have a penny, when all thy ex- 
pences are enumerated and paid : then flialt thou 
reach the point of happinefs, and independence (hall 
be thy fhield and buckler, thy helmet and crown ; then 
fliall thy foul walk upright, nor Hoop to the filken 
wretch becaufe he hath riches, nor pocket an abufc 
becaufe the hand which oners it wears a ring fet with 
diamonds. 



204 ESSAYS. 



AN ECONOMICAL PROJECT. 



[A Translation of this letter appeared in one of the 
Daily Papers of Paris, about the Tear 1784. The 
following is the Original Piece, with some Additions 
and Corrections made in it by the Author.} 



To the Authors of the Journal. 



messieurs, 



Yc 



OU often entertain us with accounts of new dif- 
coveries. Permit me to communicate to the public, 
through your paper, one that has lately been made by 
myfelf, and which I conceive may be of great utility. 

I was the other evening in a grand company, where 
the new lamp of Meffrs. Quinquet and Lange was in- 
troduced, and much admired for its fplendor ; but a 
general enquiry was made, whether the oil it confumed, 
was not in proportion to the light it afforded, in which 
cafe there would be no faving in the ufe of it. No 
one prefent could fatisfy us in that point, which all 
agreed ought to be known, it being a very deferable 
thing to leffen, if pofTible, the expence of lighting our 
apartments, when every other article of family expence 
was fo much augmented. 

I was pleafed to fee this general concern for ceco- 
nomy ; for I love ceconomy exceedingly. 

I went home, and to bed, three or four hours after 
midnight, with my head full of the fubjetl. An ac- 
cidental fudden noife waked me about fix in the morn- 



ESSAYS. 2O5 

ing, when I was furprifed to find my room filled with 
light ; and I imagined at firft, that a number of thofe 
lamps had been brought into it : but, rubbing my eyes, 
I perceived the light came in at the windows. I got 
up and looked out to fee what might be the occafion 
of it, when 1 faw the fun juft riling above the horizon, 
from vvhence he poured his rays plentifully into my 
chamber ; my dome ("tic having negligently omitted the 
preceding evening to clofe the (nutters. 

I looked at my watch, which goes very well, and 
found that it was but fix o'clock ; and ftill thinking it 
fomething extraordinary that the fun (hould rife fo 
early, I looked into the almanack; where I found it 
to be the hour given for his rifing on that day. I 
looked forward too, and found he was to rife {till ear- 
lier every day till towards the end of June; and that' 
at no time in the year he retarded his rifing fo long 
as till eight o'clock. Your readers, who with me have 
never feen any figns of funfhine before noon, and fel- 
dom regard the agronomical part of the almanack, will 
be as much ailoniflied as I was, when they hear of his 
riling fo early; and efpecially when I aflure them, 
that be gives light as soon as be rises. I am convin- 
cd of this. I am certain of the fad. One cannot be 
more certain of any facl:. I faw it with my own eyes. 
Ar.d having repeated this obiervation the three fol- 
lowing mornings, 1 found always preciiely the fame 
refult. 

Yet fo it happens, that when I fpeak of this difco- 
very to others, I can eafdy perceive by their counte- 
nances, though they forbear expreili ng it in words, 
that they do not quite believe me. One, indeed, who 
is a learned natural philofopher, has allured me, that 
I mutt certainly be miftaken as to the circumftance of 
the light coming into my room : for it being well 
known, as he fays, that there could be no light abroad 
at that hour, it follows that none could enter from 
without: and that of confequence, my windows being 
accidentally left opsn, inftead of letting in the light, 
only feryed to let out the darknefs : and he ufed 

many 



206 essays; 

many ingenious arguments to (hew me how I might, 
by that means, have been deceived. I own that he 
puzzled me a little, but he did not fatisfy me ; and 
the fubfequent obfervations I made, as above mention- 
ed, confirmed me in my firfr. opinion. 

This event has given rife, in my mind, to feveral 
ferious and important reflections. I confidered that, 
if I had not been awakened fo early in the morning, 
I mould have flept fix hoars longer by the light of the 
fun, and in exchange have lived fix hours the follow- 
ing night by candle-light ; and the latter being a much 
mere expenfive light than the former, my love of oeco- 
nomy induced me to mufter up what little arithmetic 
I was mailer of, and to make fome calculations, which 
I mall give you, after obferving, that utility is, in my 
opinion, the teft of value in matters of invention, and 
that adifcovery which can be applied to no ufe, or is 
not good for fomething, is good for nothing. 

I took for the bafis of my calculation the fuppofiti- 
on that there are 100,000 families in Paris, and that 
thefe families continue in the night half a pound of 
bougies, or. candles per hour. I think this is a mo- 
derate allowance, taking one family with another ; 
for though I believe fome confume lefs, I know that 
many confume a great deal more. Then eftimating 
feven hours per day, as the medium quantity between 
the time of the fun's riling and ours, he rifing during 
the fix following months from fix to eight hours be- 
fore noon, and there being feven hours of courfe per 
night in which we burn candles, the account will ftand 
thus — 

In the fix months between the twentieth of March 
and the twentieth of September, there are 

Nights ------ 183 

Hours of each night in which we burn 

candles - 7 



Multiplication gives for the total num- 
ber of hours - 1,281 

Thefe 



ESSAYS. 207 

Thefe 1,281 hours multiplied by 100,000 

the number of inhabitants, give - 128,100,000 

One hundred twenty-eight millions and 
one hundred thou land hours, fpent 
at Paris by candle-light, which, at 
half a pound of wax and tallow per 
hour, gives the weight of - - 64.050,000 

Sixty-four millions and fifty thoufand 
of pounds, which, eftimating the 
whole at the medium price of thirty 
fols the pound, makes the fum of 
ninety-fix millions and feventy-five 
thoufand livres tournois - - 96,075,000 

An immenfe fum ! that the city of Paris might 
fave every year, by the ceconomy of ufmg iunihine 
inftead of candles. 

If it fhould be iaid, that the people are apt to be 
obftinately attached to old cuiloms, and that it will be 
difficult to induce them to rife before noon, confe- 
quently my difcovery can be of little ufe ; I anfwer, 
Nil clesperandum. I believe all who have common 
fenfe, as foon as they have learnt from this paper that 
it is day-light when the fun rifes, will contrive to rife 
with him ; and, to compel the reft, I would propofe 
the following regulations : 

Piift. Let a tax be laid cf a louis per window, on 
every window that is provided with fhutters to keep 
out the light of the fun. 

Second. Let the fame falutary operation of police 
be made ufe of to prevent our burning candles, that 
inclined us lafr. winter to be more ceconomical in burn- 
ing wood ; that is, let guards be placed in the fhops 
of the wax and tallow-chandlers, and no family be per- 
mitted to be fupplied with more than one pound cf 
candles per week. 

Third. Let guards be polled to ftop all the coaches* 
Stc. that would pais the ilreets after funfet, except 
tliofeof phy{kia:.s, furgeons and mkivvives. 

Fourth 



208 ESSAYS. 

Fourth. Every morning as ibon as the fun riies, let 
all the bells in every church be fet ringing; and if 
that is not fufficient, let cannon be fired in every ftreet, 
and wake the fluggards effectually, and make them 
open their eyes to fee their true irrtereft. 

All the difficulty will be in the fir ft two or three 
days ; after which the reformation will be as natural 
and eafy as the prefent irregularity : for, ce v'est que 
le premier pas qui coute. Oblige a maw to rife at four 
in the morning, audit is more than probable he (hall 
go willingly to bed at eight in the evening ; and, 
having had eight hours fleep, he will rife more willing- 
ly at four the morning following. But this fum of 
ninety-fix millions and feventy-five thouiand livres is 
not the whole of what maybe laved by my oec.onomical 
project. You may obferve, that I have calculated upon 
only one half the year, and much may be faved in the 
other, though the days are (hotter, Befides, the im- 
menfe flock of wax and tallow left unco nfumed during 
the fummer, will probably make candles much cheaper 
for the enfiiing winter, and continue cheaper as long 
as the propofed reformation fhall be fupported. 

For the great benefit of this difcovei -y, thus freely 
communicated and bellowed by me on the public, I 
demand neither place, penfion, exclusive privilege, nor 
any other rewa:d whatever. I cxpeci only to have the 
honour of it. And yet I know there are little envi- 
ous minds who will, as ufual, deny me this, and fay 
that my invention was known to the ancients, and' 
pes haps they may bring paffages out of the old books 
in proof of it. I will not dilpute with thefe people 
that the ancients knew not the fun would rife at cer- 
tain hours; they poffibly had, as we have, almanacks 
that predicted it : but it d> es not follow from thence 
that they knew be gave light as soon as he rose* This 
is what 1 claim as my difcovery. If the ancients 
knew it, it muft long fince have been forgotten, for 
it certainly was unknown to the moderns, at leaft to 
the Parifians; which to prove J needufe but one plain 
fimple argument. They are as well inftruded, judici- 
ous, 



ESSAYS. 290 

ous, and prudent a people as exift any where in the 
world, all profeffing, like myfelf, to be lovers of ceco- 
nomy ; and, from the many heavy taxes required from 
them by the neceflities of the ftate, have furely reafon 
to be (Economical. I fay it is impeffihle that fo fenfi- 
ble a people, under fuch circumftances, fhould have 
lived fo long by the fmoky, unwholefome, and enor- 
moufly expentive light of candles, if they had really 
known that they might have had as much pure light 
ef the fun for nothing. 

I am, See. 

An ABONNK 



1 



On MODERN INNOVATIONS 

in the ENGLISH LANGUAGE, and in 

PRINTING. 

To Noah Webster,;^. Esq. at Hartford. 

Philadelphia, Dec. 26, 1789% 
Dear Sir, 



RECEIVED, fome time fmce, your Dissertations 
on the English Language. It is an excellent work, 
and will be greatly ufeful in turning the thoughts 01 
our countrymen to correct writing. Pleale to accept 
my thanks for it, as well as for the great honour you 
have done me in its dedication. I ought to have made 
this acknowledgment fooner, but much indifpofition 
prevented me, 

I cannot but applaud your zeal for preferving the 
purity of our language both in its expreilion and pro- 
nunciation^ 



210 ESSAYS. 

nunciation, and in corre&ing the popular errors feve- 
ral of our dates are continually falling into with ref- 
pedl to both. Give me leave to mention fome of them 
though poffibly they may already have occurred to 
you. 1 wifh, however, that in fome future publicati- 
on of yours you would fet a discountenancing mark 
upon them. The firft I remember, is the word im- 
proved. When I left New-England in the year 1723, 
this word had never been ufed among us, as far as I 
know, but in the fenfe of ameliorated, or made better 
except once in a xtry old book of Dr. Mathers, enti- 
tled, Remarkable Providences, As that man wrote a 
very obfcure hand, I remember that when I read 
that word in his book, ufed mftead of the word em- 
ployed, I conjectured that it was an error of the prin- 
ter, who had miftaken a fhort / in the writing for cm 
r and aj; with too fhort a tail' for a v, whereby em- 
ployed was converted into improved: but when Ire- 
turned to Bofton in 1733, I found this change had ob- 
tained favour, and. was then become common ; for I 
met with it often in perufing the newfpapers, where 
it frequently made an appearance rather ridiculous. 
Such, for inftance, as the advertifement of a country 
houfe to be fold, which had been many years improved 
as a tavern ; and in the character of a deceafed coun- 
try gentleman, that he had been, for more than thirty 
years, improved as juftice of the peace. This ufe of 
the word improve is peculiar to New England, and not 
to be met with among any ether fpeakers of Eng- 
lish, either on this' or the other fide of the water. 

During my late abfence in France, I find that feve- 
ral other new words have been introduced into our 
parliamentary language. For example, I find a verb 
formed from the fubftantive notice. I should not have 
noticed this, were it not that the gentleman, &c. Al- 
fo another verb from the fubftantive advocate ; The 
gentleman whs advocates, or ivho has advocated that 
motion, &c. Another from the fubftantive progress, 
the moft awkward and abominable of the three : The 
committee b&oing progrelled, resolved to adjourn . The 

word 



ESSAYS. 211 

word oppo$ed y though not a new word, I find ufed in a 
new maimer, as, The gentlemen who are oppofed to 
this measure, to which I have also myself ahv ays been 
oppofed. If you mould happen to be of my opinion 
with refpect to thefe innovations, you will uie your au- 
thority in reprobating them. 

The Latin language, long the vehicle ufed in diflribut- 
ing knowledge among the different nations of Europe, is 
daily more and more neglected ; and one of the modern 
tongues, viz. French,feems in pointof univerfality, to have 
fupplied its place. It is fpoken in all the courts of 
Europe ; and mod of the literati, thofe even who do 
not fpeak it, have acquired knowledge of it, to ena- 
ble them eafily to read the books that are written in 
it. This gives a confiderable advantage to that nati- 
on. It enables its authors to inculcate and fpread 
through other nations, fuch fentiments and opinions, 
on important points, as are mod conducive to its inte- 
refts, or which may contribute to its reputation, by 
promoting the common interefls of mankind. It is, 
.perhaps, owing to its being written in French, that 
Voltaire's Treatife on Toleration has had ib fudden and 
fo great an effect on the bigotry of Europe, as almoft 
entirely to difarm it. The general ufe of the French 
language has likewife a very advantageous effect on the 
profits of the bookfelling branch of commerce, it being 
well known, that the more copies can be fold that are 
{truck off from one compofition of types, the profits in- 
creafe in a much greater proportion than they do in 
making a greater number of pieces in any other kind 
of manufacture. And at prefent there is no capital 
town in Europe without a French bookfeller's (hop cor- 
refponding with Paris. Our Englifh bids fair to ob- 
tain the fecoud place. The great body of excellent 
printed fermons in our language, and the freedom of 
our writings on political fubjects, have induced a great 
number of divines of different feds and nations, as 
well as gentlemen concerned in public affairs to uudy 
it, fo far at lead as to resd it. And if we were to 

endeavor 



212 ESSAYS. 

endeavour the facilitating its progrefs, the Andy of our 
tongue might become much more general. Thofc 
who have employed fome part of their time in learning 
a new language, muft have frequently obferved, that 
while their acquaintance with it was imperfect, diffi- 
culties, fmall in themfelves, operated as great ones in 
obfrrucling their progrefs. A book, for example, ill 
printed, or a pronunciation in fpeaking not well arti- 
culated, would render a fentence unintelligible, which 
from a clear print, or a difliudl fpeaker, would have 
been immediately comprehended. If, therefore, we 
would have the benefit of feeing our language more 
generally known among mankind, we fhould endeavour 
to remove all the difficulties, however fmall, that dif- 
courage the learning of it. But I am lorry to ob- 
ferve, that of late yeats, thcfe difficulties, inftead of 
being dim in i fried, have been augmented. 

In examining the Englifh books that were printed 
between the reftoration and the acceffion of George the 
Second, we may obferve, that all fubftances were be- 
gun with a capital, in which we imitated our mother 
tongue, the German. This was more particularly 
ufeful to thofe who were hot well acquainted with the 
I£nglilh, there being fuch a prodigious number of our 
words that are both verbs and fubftantives, and fpelt 
in the fame manner, though often accented differently 
in pronunciation. This method has, by the fancy of 
printers, of late years, been entirely laid afide ; from 
an idea, that funpreffing the capitals fhews the charac- 
ter to greater advantage ; thofe letters, prominent 
above the line, diflurbing its even, regular appearance. 
The effect of this chnnge is fo confide* able, that a 
learned man in France, who ufed to read our books, 
though not perfectly acquainted with our language, in 
converfation with me on the fubjecl of our authors, 
attributed the greater cbfcurity he found in our mo- 
dern books, compared with thofe written in the period 
above mentioned, to change of flyle for the worfe in 
our writers; of which miftake I convinced him, by- 
marking for him each fubOantive with a capital, in a 

paragraph 



ESSAYS. 213 

paragraph, which he then eafily underftood, though 
before he could not comprehend it. This fhews the 
inconvenience of that pretended improvement. 

From the fame fondnefs for an uniform and even 
appearance of characters in the line, the printers have 
of late alfo banifhed the italic types, in which words 
of importance to be attended to in the fenfe of the fen- 
tence, and words on which an emphafis fhould be put 
in reading-, ufed to be printed. And lately another 
fancy has induced other printers to ufe the round s 
inftead of the long one, which formerly ferved well to 
diftinguifh a w T ord readily by its varied appearance. 
Certainly the omitting this prominent letter makes a 
line appear more even, but it renders it lefs immedi- 
ately legible ; as the paring of all men's nofes might 
imooth and level their faces, but would render their 
phyfiognomies lefs diftinguifhable. Add to all thefe 
improvements backwards, another modern fancy, that 
grey printing is more beautiful than black. Hence 
the Englifli new books are printed in fo dim a charac- 
ter, as to be read with difficulty by old eyes, unlefs 
in a very ftrong light, and with good glafles. Who- 
ever compares a volume of the Gentleman's Magazine, 
printed between the years 1731 and 1740, with one 
of thofe printed in the laft ten years, will be convinc- 
ed of the much greater degree of perfpicuity given 
by black than by the grey. Lord Chefterfield plea- 
fantly remarked this difference to Faulkener, the prin- 
ter of the Dublin Journal, who was vainly making 
encomiums on his own paper, as the mod: complete of 
any in the world. " But Mr. Faulkener," fays my 
lord, « don't you think it might be ftili farther im- 
" proved, by ufing paper and ink not quite fo near of 
" a colour." — For all thefe reafons I cannot but wifii 
that our American printers would, in their editions, 
avoid thefe fancied improvements, and thereby ren- 
der their works more agreeable to foreigners in Eu- 
rope, to the great advantage of our bookfelling com- 
merce* 

Farther, 
S 



214 ESSAYS. 

Farther, to be more fenfible of the advantage of 
clear and diflinct printing, let usconfider the affiftance 
it affords in reading well aloud to an auditory. In fo 
doing the eye generally Hides forward three or four 
words before the voice. If the fight clearly diftin- 
guifhes what the coming words are, it gives time to 
alter the modulation of the voice, to exprefs them 
properly. But if they are obfcurely printed, or dif- 
gufted by omitting the capitals and long f's, or other- 
wife, the reader is apt to modulate wrong, and finding 
he has done fo, he is obliged to go back and begin the 
fentence again ; which leffens the pleafure of the hear- 
ers. This leads me to mention an old error in our 
mode of printing. We are fenfible that when a quef- 
tion is met with in the reading, there is a proper vari- 
ation to be ufed in the management of the voice. We 
have, therefore, a point, called an interrogation, affixed 
to the queilion, in order to diftinguifh it. But this is 
abfurdly placed at its end, fo that the reader does not 
difcover it till he finds that he has wrongly modulated 
his voice, and is therefore obliged to begin again the 
fentence. To prevent this, the Spanilh printers,, more 
fenfibly, place an interrogation at the beginning as 
well as at the end of the queftion. We have another 
error of the fame kind in printing plays, where fome- 
thing often occurs that is marked as fpaken aside— 
But the word aside is placed at the end of the fpeech, 
when it ought to precede it, as a direction to the 
reader, that he may govern his voice accordingly. 
,The practice of our ladies in meeting five or fix toge- 
ther, to form little bufy parties, where each is em- 
ployed in fome.ufeful work, while one reads to them, 
is fo commendable in itfelf, that it deferves the at- 
tention of authors and printers to make it as pleating 
as pofnble, both to the readers and hearers. 

My bed wifhes attend you, being, with fincerc 
elleem, 

Sir, your moft obedient and 
very humble fervant, 

B. FRANKLIN. 



ESSAYS. 2X5 



-VN ACCOUNT OF THE HIGHEST COURT OF JUDICA- 
TURE IN PENNSYLVANIA, VIZ. 

m COURT OF THE PRESS. 

Power of this Court, 



XT may receive and promulgate accufations of all 
kinds, againft all perfons and characters among the 
citizens of the (late, and even againlt all inferior 
courts; and may judge, fentence, and condemn to 
infamy, not only private individuals, but public bo- 
dies, he, with or without enquiry or hearing, at the 
court's difcretion- 

Wbose favour ) cr for whose emolument ibis court is 
established. 

In favour of about one citizen in five hundred, who, 
by education, or practice in fcribbling, has acquired 
a tolerable ftyJe as to grammar and confhudtion, fo as 
to bear printing; or who is pofleffed of a prefs and a 
few types. This five hundredth part of the citizens 
have the privilege of accufmg and abufing the other 
four hundred and ninety-nine parts at their pleafure ; 
or they may hire out their pens and prefs to others, 
for that purpofe. 

Practice of this Court. 

It is not governed by any of the rules of the com- 
mon courts of law. The accufed is allowed no grand 



2l6 ESSAYS^ 

jury to judge of the truth of the accufation before it 
is publicly made ; nor is the mean of the accufer made 
known to him ; nor has he an opportunity of confront- 
ing the witnelTes againft him, for they are kept in the 
dark, as in the Spanifh court of inquifition. Nor is 
there any petty jury of his peers fworn to try the truth 
of the charges. The proceedings are alio foinetimes 
ib rapid, that an honeftgood citizen may find himfelf 
iudcenly and unexpectedly accufed, and in the fame 
morning judged and condemned, and fentence pro-, 
nounced againft him that he is a rogue and a villain. 
Yet if an officer of this court receives the flighted 
check for mifconduct in this his office, he claims im- 
mediately the rights of a free citizen by the conftituti- 
on, and demands to know his accufer, to confront the 
witnrflcs, and to have a fair trial by a jury of his 
peers. 

The foundation of its authority. 

It is faid to be founded on an article in the flate 
conltitution, which eftablifhes the liberty of the.prefs 
—a liberty which every Pennfylvanian would fight 
and die for, though few of us, 1 believe, have difti.nct 
ideas of its nature and extent. It feems, Indeed, fcme- 
what like the liberty of the prels, that felons have, by 
the common law of England before conviction ; that 
h, to be either preiTed to death or hanged. If, by the 
liberty of the pre is, were undeiftood merely the liberty 
of difcuifi.Bg the propriety of public meafures and po- 
litical opinions, let us have as much of it as you pleaie ; 
but if it means the liberty of a (fronting, calumniating, 
and defaming one another, I, for my part, own myfelf 
willing to part with my fhare of it, whenever our legis- 
lators (hall pleafe to alter the law : and fhall cheer- 
fully confent to exchange my liberty ofabufiug others, 
for the privilege of not being abufed mvfeif. 

Sj 



a y r>. 217 



By whom ibis court is commissioned or constituted. 

It has not any ccm million from the fupreme exe- 
cutive council, who might previously judge of the abi- 
lities, integrity, knowledge, &c. of the perfens to be 
appointed to this great truft of deciding upon the cha- 
racters and good fame of the citizens: for this court 
is above that council, and may accufe, judge, and con- 
demn it at pleafure. Nor is it hereditary, as is the 
court of- dernier refort in the peerage of England. 
But any man. who can procure pen, ink, and paper* 
with a prefs, a few types, and a huge pair of blacking 
balls, may commifiionate himfelf, and his court is im- 
mediately efiablifhed in the plenary pofTeffion and ex- 
ercife of its rights. For if you make the leaft com- 
plaint of the judge's conduct, he daubs his blacking, 
balls in your face wherever he me«ts you, and befides 
tearing your private character to fplinters, marks yon 
out for the odium of the public, as an enemy to the 
liberty of the pre Is. 

Of the natural support of this court. 

Its fupport is founded in the depravity of fuch miner. 
as have not been mended by religion, nor improved by^ 
good education. 

There is a lu-ft in man no charm can tame. 
Of loudly publifhing his neighbour's fhaflie. 
Hence, 

On eagles' wings, immortal, fcandals fly. 
While virtuous actions are but born and die, 

Dryden. 
Whoever feels pain in hearing a good character of 
his neighbour, will feel a pleafure in the reverfe. And r 
of thofe. who defpairing to rife to diftin&ion by their 
virtues, are happy if others can be deprefied to a level 
with themfelves, there are a number fufRcient in eve* 
ry great town to maintain one of thefe courts by their 
labfcrintion* A /hrewd .obferyer once faid, that in. 

walking 

S 2 



2l8 ESSAYS. 

walking the ftreets of a flippery morning, one might 
fee where the good- natu red people lived, by the a Hies 
thrown on the ice before the doors : probably he would 
have formed a different conjecture of the temper of 
thofe whom he might find engaged in fuch fobfcrip- 
tions. 

Of the checks proper to be established against the abuses 
of power in those courts. 

Hitherto there are none. But fince fo much has 
been written and publifhedon the federal conftitutlon ; 
and the neceflity of checks, in all other parts of good 
government, has been fo clearly and learnedly explain- 
ed, I find myfelf fo far enlightened as to fuipect fome 
check may be proper in this part alfo : but 1 have been 
at a lofs to imagine any that may not be conftrued an 
infringment of the facred liberty of the prefs. At 
length however, I think I have found one, that, in- 
flead of diminishing general liberty, fhall augment it ; 
which is, by reftoring to the people a fpecies of liberty 
of which they have been deprived by cur law, I mean 
the liberty of the cudgel ! In the rude (late of fociety, 
prior to the exigence of laws, if one man gave ano- 
ther ill language, the affronted perfon might return it 
by a box on the ear ; and if repeated, by a good 
drubbing ; and this without offending againft any law: 
but now the right of making fuch returns is denied, and 
they are punifhed as breeches of the peace, while the 
right of abufing feems to remain in full force ; the 
laws made againft it being rendered ineffe&ual by the 
liberty of the prefs. 

My propofal then is, to leave the liberty of the 
prefs untouched, to be exercifed in its full extent, force, 
and vigour, but to permit the liberty of the cudgel to 
go with it, pari passu* Thus, my fellow citizens, if 
an impudent writer attacks your reputation — dearer 
perhaps to you than your life, and puts his name to 
the charge, you may go to him as openly and break his 
head. If he conceals himfelf behind the printer, and 

you 



ESSAYS. 219 

vou can neverthelefs difcover who he is, you may in 
like manner, waylay him in the night, attack him be- 
hind, and give him a good (bobbing. If your adver- 
fary hires better writers than himfelf, to abufe you 
more effectually, you may hire brawny porters, ftronger 
than yourfelf, to aflift you in giviog him a more ef- 
fectual drubbing. Thus far goes my project., as to a 
private reientment aud retribution. But if the public 
fhould ever happen to be affronted, as it ought to be, 
with the conduct of inch writers, I would not advile 
proceeding immediately to thefe extremities, but that 
we fhould in moderation content ou Helves with tar- 
ring and feathering, and toiling them in a blanket. 

If, however, it ihoulu be thought that this propefal 
of mine may difturb the public peace, I would then 
humbly recommend to our legiflators to take up the 
confide ration of both liberties, that of the prefs, asd 
that of the cudgel ; and by an explicit law mark their 
extent and limits: and at the fame time that they fe- 
cure the perfon of a citizen from aiYaults, they would 
like wife provide for the iecuiity of his reputation. 



PAPER: A POEM. 



OOME wit of old — fuch wits of old there were — 
Whofe hints fhow'd meaning, whole allufions care, 
By one brave ftroke to mark all human kind, 
Call'd clear blank paper ev'ry infant mind ; 
When ftill, as op'ning fenfe her dictates wrote, 
Fair virtue put a feal, or vice a blot. 

The thought was happy, pertinent, and true ; 
Methinks a genius might the plan purfue, 
I, (can you pardon my prefumption ? I — ) 
No wit, no genius, yet for once will try. 

Various 



2 20 ESSAYS. 

Various the papers various v/ants produce. 
The wants of falhion, elegance, and uie. 
Men are as various : and, if right I fcan, 
Each fort of paper reprefents tome mar,. 

Pray note the fop — half powder and half lace— 
Nice, as a baud-box were his dwelling place ; 
He's the gilt paper, which apart you (lore, 
And lock from vulgar hands in the 'icrutaire. 

Mechanics, fervants, farmers, and fo forth, 
Are copy paper of inferior worth ; 
Lefs priz'd. more uieful, for ycurdefk decreed, 
Free to all pens, and prompt at ev'ry need. 

The wretch whom av Vice bids to pinch and fpare, 
Starve, cheat, and pilfer, to enrich an heir, 
Is coarfe brown paper ; fuch as pedlars choofe 
To wrap up wares, which better men will ufe. 

Take next the mifer's contrahV who deilroys 
Health, fame, and fortune, in a round of joys. 
Will any paper match him ? Yes, throughout., 
H's a true sinking paper, paft all doubt. 

The retail politician's anxious thought 
Deems this fide always right, and that (lark nought \ 
He foams with cenfure ; with applaule he raves — 
A dupe to rumours, and a tool of knaves ; 
He'll want no type his weaknefs to proclaim, 
While fuch a thing as fools-cap has a name. 

The baity gentleman, whole blood runs highj 
Who picks a quarrel, if you Hep a- wry, 
Who can't a jeir, or hint, or look endure: 
What's he? What? Touch-paper to be lure. 

What are our poets, take them as they fall ; 
Good, bad, rich, poor, much read, not read at all ; 
Them and their works in the fame clafs you'll find - y 
They are the mere ivaste-paper of mankind. 

Obferve the maiden, innocently fweet, 
She's fair white-paper, and unfullied meet ; 
On which the happy man whom fate ordains, 
May write his name 9 and take her for his pains* 

On* 



£ S S A Y S. 2 21- 

One inftauce more, and only one I'll bring; 
1 Tis the great man who fcorns a little thing, 
Whofe thoughts, whofe deeds, whofe maxims are his 

own, 
Form'd on the fellings of his heart alone : 
True genuine royal-paper is his bread ; 
Of all the kinds molt precious, pureft, bed. 



ON THE ART OF SWIMMING. 



In answer to some inquiries of M* Dabourg* on the 
subject. 



I 



AM apprcbenfive that I (ball not be able to find 
lei lure for making all the difquifitions and experiments 
which would be defirable on this fubject, I mud there- 
fore, content myfelf with a few remarks. 

r i he fpccific gravity of feme human bodies, in com- 
panion to that of water, has been examined by M. 
Robinfon, in our Phiblbphical Tranfactions, volume 
50, page 30, for the year 1757. He afferts, that fat 
pcrfons with (mail bones float mod eafily upon water. 

The diving bell is accurately defcribed in our Tranf- 
ac\ions. 

When I was a boy, I made two oval pallets, each 
about ten inches long, and fix broad, with a hole for 
the thumb, in order to retain it fad in the palm of 
my hand. They much refemble a painter's pallets. 
In fwimming I pudied the edges of thefe forward, 
and I ftruck the water with their flat furfaces as I 

drew 



* Translator of Dr, Franklin's works into French* 



222 £ S S A Y S. 

drew them back. I remember I fwam fatter by means 
of thefe pallets, but they fatigued my wrifls. — I alio 
fitted to the foles of my feet a kind of fandals ; but I 
•was not fatisfied with them, becaufe I obferved that 
the ftroke is partly given with the infide of the feet 
and the ancles, and not entirely with the foles of the 
feet. 

We have here waiftcoats for fwim mi ng, which are 
made of double fail-cloth, with fmall pieces of cork 
quilted in between them. 

I know nothing of the scapbandre of M. de la- 
Chappelle. 

1 know by experience that it is a great comfort to 
a fwimmer, who has a confcderable diilance to go r 
to turn hirnfelf foretimes on his back, and to vary 
in other refpe£te the means of. procuring a progreiV- 
five motion. 

When he is feized with the cramp in the leg,, the 
method of driving it away is to give to the parts af-* 
fecfted a fudden, vigorous, and violent fhcek; .which he 
may do in the air as he fwims on his back.- 

During the great heats of iummer there is no dan- 
ger in bathing, however warm we may be in rivers: 
which have been thoroughly warmed by the fen. Bu% 
to throw onefeif into cold fpring water, when the body 
has been heated by exercife in the fun, is an iropro- 
dence which may prove fatal. 1 once knew an in- 
flance of four young men, -who, having worked athar- 
veft in the heat of the day, with a view of refrefhing 
themfelves plunged into a fpring of cold water : two 
died upon the fpot, a third the next morning, and the 
fourth recovered with great difficulty. A copious 
draught of cold water, in (imilar circunutances, is fre- 
quently attended with the fame effect in North Ame- 
rica. 

The exercife of fwimming is one of the molt heal- 
thy and agreeable in the world. After having fwam 
for an hour or two in the evening, one flecps coolly 
the whole night, even during the moft ardent heat pf 
fiirnmer. Perhaps the pores being* ckanfed, the in 

infenCbh" 



ESSAYS. 223 

isnfible perfpiration increafes and occafions this cool- 
neis. — It is certain that much fwimmirrg is the means 
of (topping a, diarrhoea, and even of producing a con- 
it ipation. With refpecl to^ thole who do not know 
hovv to fwim, or who are affected with a diarrhoea at 
a feafon which does not permit them to ufe that ex- 
ercife, a warm bath by cleaning and purifying the 
fkin, is found very falutary, and often effecis a radi- 
cal cure. I ipeak from my own experience, frequent* 
\y repeated, and that of others to whom I have re- 
commended this. 

You will not be difpleafed if I conclude thefe hafly 
remarks by informing you, that as the ordinary me- 
thod of fwimming is reduced to the act of rowing 
with the arms and legs, and is confequently a labouri- 
ous and fatiguing operation when the fpace of water 
to be crofFed is confide 1 able; there is a method in 
which a fwimmer may pais to great diftances with 
much facility by means of a fail. This difcovery I 
•fortunately made by accident, and in the following 
manner : 

When I was a boy I am u fed my ft If one day with 
flying a paper kite ; and approaching the bank of --a 
pond, which was near a mile broad, I tied the firing 
■to a ftakej and the kite afcended to a very confidera- 
ble height above the pond, while I was fwimming. 
In a little time, being defirous of amufing myfeif 
with my kite, and enjoying at the fame time the plea- 
sure of fwimming, I returned ; and looGng from tke 
flake the (tring with the little Rick which was fatten- 
ed to it, went again into the water, where I found, 
that lying on my back, and holding the flick in my 
hands, I was drawn along the furface of the water ia 
a very agreeable manner. Having then engaged ano- 
ther boy to carry my clothes round the pond to a phce 
which I pointed out to him on the other fide, I began 
to crofs the pond with my kite, which carried me 
quite over without the leaft fatigue, and with the 
greateft pleafu re imaginable. I was only obliged oc- 
.caiionally to halt a little in my courfe, and refilt its 

progrcfl 



224 ESSAYS. 

progrefs, when it appeared that, by following too quick, 
I lowered the kite too much ; by doing which ccca- 
fjonally I made it rife again. I have never fince that 
time praclifed this Angular mode of fwimming, though 
I think it not impofTible to crcfs in this manner from 
Dover to Calais. The packet-boat, however, is fliil 
preferable. 



NEW MODE OF BATHING. 

EXTRACTS OF LETTERS TO M. DUBOURG. 

London, July 28, 1768. 

JL GREATLY approve the epithet you give, in 
your tet&r of the Stli of June to the new method of 
ti eating the iinall-pox, which you call the tonic or 
bracing method ; 1 will take occafion, from it, to men- 
tion a practice to winch I have accuilomed myielf. 
You know the cold hath has long been in vogue here 
as a tonic ; but the (hock of the sold water has al- 
ways appeared to me, generally f pea king, as too vio- 
lent ; and I have found it much moie agreeable to my 
con dilution to bathe in another element, I mean cold 
air. With this view I rife early almolt every morn- 
ing, and Ik in my chamber without any clothes what- 
ever, half an hour or an hour, according to the feafon, 
either reading cr writing. This practice is not in the 
Jeall painful, but, on the contrary, agreeable ; and if I 
return to bed afterwards, before I drefs my ft If, as ionie- 
tiines happens, I make a fupplement to my night's reft 

of 



ESSAYS. 225 

of one or two hours of the moft pleafing fleep that can 
be imagined. I find no ill corfequences whatever re- 
flating from it, and that at leaft it does not injure my 
health, if it does not in fa 61 contribute much to itspre- 
fervation. I fhall therefore call it for the future a bra- 
cing ov tonic bath. 



March 10, 1773. 



I (hall not attempt to explain why damp clothes oc- 
cafron colds, rather than wet ones, becaufe I doubt the 
fact ; I imagine that neither the one nor the other 
contribute to this effect, and that the caufes of colds 
are totally independent of wet and even of cold. I 
propofe writing a fhort paper on this fubjecl, the firfl 
leiture moment I have at my difpofal. In the mean 
time I can only fay, that having fome fufpicions that 
the common notion, which attributes to cold the pro- 
perty of flopping the pores and obftru&ing perfpirati- 
on, was ill-founded, I engaged a young phyfician, who 
is making forae experiments with Sandtorius's balance, 
to eftimate the different proportions of his perfpirati- 
on, when remaining one hour quite naked, and another 
warmly clothed. He purfued the experiment in this 
alternate manner for eight hours iucceffively, and 
found his perfpiration almoft double during thole hours 
In which he was naked. 

OBSERVATIONS 



Z26 ESSAYS. 



OBSERVATIONS ON 
THE GENERALLY PREVAILING DOC- 
TRINES OF LIFE AND DEATH. 



Yc 



TO THE SAME. 



OUR obiervations on the caufes of death, and 
the experiments which you propoie for recalling to life 
thofe who appear to be killed by lightning, dernondrate 
equally your fagacity and humanity. It appears that 
the doctrines of life and death, in general, aie yet but 
little uuderftood. 

A toad, buried in fand, will live, it is faid, until 
the fand becomes petrified ; and then, being inclofed 
in the Hone, it may ftill live for .we know not how 
many ages. The fadls which are cited in fupport of 
this opinion, are too numerous and tco circumftantial 
not to deferve a certain degree of credit. As we are 
accuftomed to fee all the animals with which we are 
acquainted eat and drink, it appesj*s to us difficult to 
conceive how a toad can be fupported in fuch a dun- 
geon. But if we refi ec'i, that the neceflity of nourish- 
ment, which animals experience in their ordinary ftate, 
proceeds from the continual wade of their fubftance by 
perfpiration : it will appear lefs incredible that feme 
animals in a torpid (late, perfpiring lefs bexaufe they 
nfe no exercife, Ihould have lefs need of aliment; and 
thatothers, which are covered with fcales or fhells, which 
Hop perfpiration, fuch as laud and fea turtles, ferpents, 
and iome fpecies of fifh, (honld be able tofubfifta con- 
iiderable time without any nouriihment whatever. A 
plant, with its flowers, fades and dies immediately, if 
expofed to the air without having its roots immerfed in 

a humid 



ESSAYS. 227 

a humid foil, from which it may draw a fufficient 
quantity of raoifture, to lupply that which exhales frona 
its fubftance, and is carried off continually by the air. 
Perhaps, however, if it were buried in quickiilver, it 
might preferve, for a considerable fpace of time, its 
vegetable life, its imell and colour. If this be the cafe, 
it might prove a commodious method of tranfpofting 
from diftant countries thofe delicate plants which are 
unable to iuftain the inclemency of the weather at 
fea, and which require particular care and attention. 

I have feen. an inftance of common flies preferved 
in a manner fomewhat funilar. They had been drown- 
ed in Madeira wine, apparently about the time when 
it was bottled in Virginia, to be lent to London. At 
the opening of one of the bottles, at the houle of a 
friend where I was, three drowned hies fell into the 
fi.fl glats which was filled. Having heard it remark- 
ed that drowned files were capable of being revived 
by the rays of the fun, I propofed making the experi- 
ment upon thefe. They were therefore expofed to 
the fun, upon a fieve, which had been employed to 
ftrain them out of the wine. In lets than three hours 
two of them began by degrees to recover life. They 
commenced by fome convulfive motions in the thighs, 
and at length they raifed themfelves upon their legs, 
wiped their eyes with their fore feet, beat and brufhed 
their wings with their hind feet, and ibon after began 
to fly, finding themfelves in Old England, without 
knowing how they came thither. The third continu- 
ed lifelefs until funfet, when, lofing all hopes of him, 
he was thrown away. 

I wifh it were poflible, from this inftance, to in- 
vent a method of embalming drowned perfons, in fuch 
a ^manner that they might be recalled to life at any- 
period, however diftant ; for having a very ardent de- 
fire to fee and obferve the ftate of America an hun- 
dred years hence, I fliould prefer to an ordinary death, 
the being immerfed in a calk of Madeira wine, with a 
few friends, until that time, then to be recalled to life 
by the folar warmth of my dear country. But, fincc, 

in 



228 ESSAYS. 

in all probability, we live in an age too early, and too 
near the infancy of fcience, to fee fuch an art brought 
in our time to its perfection, I mud, for the prefent,. 
content myfelf with the treat, which you are fo kind 
as to promife me, of the refurreclion of a fowl or a 
turkey-cock. 



Precautions to be used by those who are about to 

undertake a Sea Voyage. 

V V HEN you intend to take a long* voyage, no- 
thing is better than to keep it a fecret till the moment of 
yoar departure. Without this, you will be continual- 
ly interrupted and tormented by vifits from friends and 
acquaintances, who not only make you Iofe your valua- 
ble time, but make you forget a thoufand things which 
you wifli to remember; fo that when you are embark- 
ed, and fairly at fea, you recoiled!, with much uneafi- 
r>zi$) affairs which you have not terminated, accounts 
which you have not fettled, and a number of th 
which you propofed to carry with you, and which you 
find the want of every moment. Would it not be at- 
tended with the beft confequences, to reform fuch a 
cuftora ; and fuffer a traveller, without deranging him, 
to make his preparations in quietneis, to let apart a 
few days, when thefe are finifhed, to take leave of his 
friends, and to receive their good wilhes for his happy 
return ? 

It is not always in one's power to choofe a captain ; 
though great part of the pleafure and happinefs of the 
paflage depends upon this choice, and though one mud 
for a time be confined to his company, and be in fome 
meafure under his command. If he is a fecial fenfible 
man, obliging, and of a good difpofition, you will be 
fo much the happier. One fometimes meets, with peo- 
ple* 



ESSAYS. 229 

pie of this defcription, but they are not common ; 
however, if yours be not of this number, if he be a 
good feaman, attentive, careful, and active in the 
management of his veffel, you may difpenfe with the 
reft, for theie are the mod eilential qualities. 

Whatever right you may have, by your agreement 
with him, to the provifions he has taken on board for 
the ufe of the paife tigers, it is always proper to have 
fome private ftore, which you may make ufe of occa- 
fionally. You ought, therefore, to provide good water, 
that of the (hip being often bad ; but you mull: put it 
into bottles, without which, you cannot expect to pre- 
ferve it fweet. You ought alio to carry with you 
good tea, ground coffee chocolate, wine of the fort 
you like beft, cyder, dried raifins, almonds, fugar, 
capillaire, citrons, rum, eggs dipped in oil, portable 
foup, bread twice baked. With regard to poultry, it 
is almoft ufeleis to carry any with you, unlefs you re- 
folve to undertake the office of feeding and fattening 
them yourfelf. With the little care which is taken 
of them on board fhip, they are almoft all ikkly, and 
their flefh, is as tough as leather. 

All failors entertain an opinion, which has undoubt- 
edly originated formerly from a want of water, and 
when it has been found neceffary to be fparing of it, 
that poultry never know when they have drank enough ; 
and that when water is given them at difcretion, they 
generally kill themfelves by drinking beyond meafure. 
In coniequence of this opinion, they give them water 
only once in two days, and even then in {mall quan- 
tities : but as they pour this water into troughs in- 
clining on one fide, which occafions it to run to the 
lower part, it thence happens that they are obliged to 
mount one upon the back of another in order to reach 
it ; and there are fome which cannot even dip their 
beaks in it. Thus continually tantalized and torment- 
ed by third, they are unable to digeft their food, which 
is very dry, and they foon fall lick and die. Some 
of them are found thus every morning, and are thrown 
into the lea j whilft thofe which are killed for the table 
T 2 are 



23O ESSAYS. 

are fcarcely fit to be eaten. To remedy this incon- 
venience, it will be neceffary to divide their troughs 
into i'mall compartments, in fuch a manner that each 
of them maybe capable of containing water; but this 
is feldom or never done. On this account, flieep and 
hogs are to be confidered as the beft frefh provifion that 
one can have at fea ; mutton there being in general 
very good, and pork excellent. 

It may happen that fome of the provifions and (lores 
which I have recommended may become almofl: ufe- 
lefs, by the care which the captain has taken to lay in 
a proper flock ; but in luch a cafe you may difpofe of 
it to relieve the poor paffengers, who, paying lefs for 
their pafiage, are ftowed among the common failors, 
and have no right to the captain's provifions, except 
luch part of them as is ufed for feeding the crew. — 
Thefe paffengers are fometimes lick, melancholy, and 
dejected ; and there are often women and children 
among them, neither of whom have any opportunity of 
procuring thofe things which I have mentioned, and 
of which, perhaps, they have the greateft need. By 
diftributing among them a part of your fuperfluity, you 
may be of the greateft affiftance to them. You may 
reftore their health, fave their lives, and in fhort ren- 
der them happy ; which always affords the livelieft fen- 
fat on to a feeling mind. 

The moft dilagreeable thing at fea is the cookery ; 
for there is not, properly fpeaking, any profefled cook 
on board. The worft failor is generally chofen for 
that purpofe, who for the mod part is equally dirty. 
Hence comes the proverb ufed among the Englifli iai- 
lors, that God sends meat, and the Devil sends cooks. 
Thofe, however, who have a better opinion of Pro- 
vidence, will think otherwife. Knowing that fea air, 
and the exercife or motion which they receive from the 
rolling of the Ihip, have a wonderful effect in whetting 
the appetite, they will fay that Providence has given 
failors bad cooks to prevent them from eating too 
much ; \pr that knowing they would have bad cooks, 
he has given them a good appetite to prevent them 

from 



£ S S A Y S. 23I 

from dying with hunger. However, if you have no 
confidence in thefe fuccours of Providence, you may 
yourfelf, with a lamp and boiler, by the help of a little 
ipirits of wine, prepare fome food, fuch as ibup, hafh, 
Sec. A fmall oven, made of tin-plate, is not a ba'd 
piece of furniture : your fervant may roalt in it a piece 
of mutton or pork. If you are ever tempted to eat 
fait beef, which is often very good, you will find that 
cyder is the beft liquor to quench the third generally 
caufed by fait meat or fait fiih. Sea-bifcuit, which is 
too hard for the teeth of fome people, may be foftei-?ed 
by fteeping it ; but bread double baked is the heft, for 
being made of good loaf-bread cut into ilices. and baked 
a fecond time, it readily imbibes water, becomes ibft, 
and is eafily digefled ; it consequently forms excellent 
nourifhment, much fuperior to that of bifcuit, which 
lias not been fermented. 

I muft here obferve, that this double-baked bread 
was originally the real bifcuit prepared to keep at fea ; 
for the word biscuit, in French, iignifies twice baked.* 
Peafe often boil badly, and do not become feft ; in 
fuch a cafe, by putting a two-pound (hot into the ket- 
tle, the rolling of the \eftd, by means of this bullet, 
will convert the peafe into a kind of porridge, like 
mudard. 

Having often feen foup, when put upon the table 
at fea in broad flat difhes, thrown out on every {\de by 
the rolling of the veffel, I have wiihed that our tin- 
men would make our ibup-bafons with divifions or com- 
partments, forming fmall plates, proper for contain- 
ing foup for one peribn only. B) this difpofition, the 
foup, in an extraordinary roll, would not be thrown 
out of the plate, and wculd not fall into the breads of 
thofe who are at table, and fcald them. Having en- 
tertained you with thefe things of little impoitance, 
permit me now to conclude with fome general reflecti- 
ons upon navigation. 

When 



# Tt 



is derived from bis again^ and cuit baked. 



23 2 ESSAYS. 

When navigation is employed only for transporting 
neceflary provifions from one country, where they 
abound, to another where they are wanting; when by 
this it prevents famines, which were fo frequent and 
to fatal before it was invented and became fo common ; 
we cannot help conlidering it as one of thofe art* 
which contribute mcft to the happinefs of mankind, 
But when it is employed to tranfport things of no 
utility, or articles merely of luxury, it is then uncer- 
tain whether the advantages refulting from it are fuf- 
fficient to counterbalance the misfortunes it occafions, 
by expofing the lives of fo many individuals upon the 
valt ocean. And when it is ufed to plunder veifels 
and tranfport flaves, it is evidently only the dreadful 
means of increafing thofe calamities which afflict hu- 
man nature. 

One is aftoniihed to think on the number of veffels 
and men who are daily expofed in going to bring tea 
from China, coffee from Arabia, .and fugar and tobac- 
co from America ; all commodities which our ances- 
tors lived very well without. The fugar-trade em- 
ploys nearly a thoufand veUels ; and that of tobacco 
almoft the fame number. With regard to the utility 
of tobacco, little can be fa id ; and, with regard to 
fuga>', how much more meritorious would it be to fa- 
crifice the momentary pleafure which we receive from 
drinking it once or twice a-day in our tea, than to 
encourage the numberleis cruelties that are continually 
exercifed in order to procure it for us ? 

A celebrated French moralift faid, that when he 
coniideied the wars which we foment in Africa to ret 
negroes, the great number who of courfe peri(h in thefe 
wars ; the multitude of thofe wretches who die in their 
paffage, by difeafe, bad air, and bad provifions ; and 
laftly, how many perifh by the cruel treatment they 
meet with in a ftate of ilavery ; when he faw a bit of 
fugar, he could not help imagining it to be covered 
with fpots of human blood. But, had he added to 
thefe connderations the wars which we carry on one 
againft another, to take and retake the iflands that 

produce 



ESSAYS. 233 

produce this commodity, be would not have fcen the 
fugar fiinply spotted with blood, he would have beheld 
it entirely tinged with it. 

Thefe wars make the maritime powers of Europe, 
and the inhabitants of Paris and London, pay much 
dearer for their fugar than thofe of Vienna, though 
they are almoft three hundred leagues diftattt from the 
iea. A pound of fugar, indeed, cofts the former not 
only the price which they give for it, but alfo what 
they pay in taxes, neceflaiy to fupport thofe fleets and 
armies which ferve to defend and protect the countries 
that produce it. 



ON LUXURY, IDLENESS, and INDUSTRY, 

From a Letter to Benjamin Vaugban, Esq.* written 
in 1784. 



1 



T is wonderful how prepofteroufly the affairs of this 
world are managed. Naturally one would imagine 
that the intereft of a few individuals fhould give way 
to genera! incereft ; but individuals manage their af- 
fairs with fo much more application, induftry, and 
addrefs, than the public do theirs, that general inteyeft 
mofl commonly gives way to particular. We aflemble 
parliaments and councils, to have the benefit of their 
collected wifdom ; but we neceffarily have, at the 
fame time, the inconvenience of their cclle&ed paf- 

fipns 



* Present member of Parliament for the borough of 
Calne, in Wiltshire, between whom and our author there 
subsisted a very close friendship. 



234 ESSAYS. 

fions, prejudices, and private interefls. By the help 
of thefe, artful men overpower their wifdcm, and dupe 
its pofleflbrs ; and if we may judge by the acls, ar- 
rets, and edicts, all the world over, for regulating com- 
merce, an affembly of great men is the greatefl: fool 
upon earth. 

I have not yet, indeed, thought of a remedy for 
luxury. I am net lure that in a great date it is capa- 
ble of a remedy ; nor that the evil is in itfelf always 
fo great as it is reprefented. Suppofe we include in 
the definition of luxury all unneceiTary expence, and 
then let us confider whether laws to prevent fucb ex- 
pence are poifible to be executed in a great country, 
and whether, if they could be executed, cur people 
generally wculd be happier, or even richer. Is not 
the hope of being cne day able to purchaie and enjoy 
luxuries, a great fpur to labour and induftry? May 
not luxury therefore produce more than it coofunies, 
if, without fuch a f<-ir, people would be, as they are 
naturally enough inclined to be, lazy and indolent ? 
To this puipole I remember a circumftanee. The 
ikipperof'a fhallop, employed between Cape-May and 
Philadelphia, had done us fo'me fmall iervices, for 
which he refufed to be paid. My wife undemanding 
that he had a daughter, lent her a prefent of a new- 
fdfhioned cap. Three years after, this fkipper being 
at my houfe with an old farmer of Cape-May, his pui- 
fenger,. he mentioned the cap, and how much his 
daughter had been pleafed with it. " Bjt (laid he) 
it proved a dear cap to our congregation." — " How 
fo?" — " When my daughter appeared with it at meet- 
ing, it was fo much admired, that all the girls reiblv- 
ed to get fuch caps from Philadelphia ; and my wife 
and I computed that the whole could not have coft lefs 
than a hundred pounds" — " True, (faid the farmer) 
but you do not tell all the flory. I think the cap was 
nevertheiefs an advnntage to us ; for it was the firft 
thing that put our girls upon knitting worfted mittens 
forfaleat Philadelphia, that they might have where- 
withal 



ESSAYS. 235 

withal to buy caps and ribbons there ; and you know 
that induflry has continued, and is likely to continue 
and increafe to a much greater value, and anfv/er much 
better purpofes" — Upon the whole, I was more re- 
conciled to this little piece of luxury, fi nee not only 
the girls were made happier by having fine caps, but 
the Philadelphians by the fupply of warm mittens. 

In our commercial towns upon the fea-coafr, fortunes 
will occafionally be made. Some of thofe who grow 
rich will be prudent, live within bounds, and preferve 
what they have gained for their pouerity ; others fond 
of (hewing their wealth, will be extravagant, and ruin 
themfelves. Laws cannot prevent this ; and perhaps 
it is not always an evil to the public. A Ihiliing 
fpent idly by a fool, may be picked up by a wifer 
perfon, who knows better what to do with it. It is 
therefore not loft. A vain, filly fellow builds a fine 
houfe, furnifhes it richly, lives in it expensively, and in 
a few years ruins himielf ; but ihemafous, carpenters 
imiths, and other honeft tradefmen, have been by his 
employ a(iifled in maintaining and,raiiing their families: 
the farmer has been paid for his labour, and encoura- 
ged, and the eftate is now in better hands.— In fome 
cafes, indeed, certain modes of luxury may be a public 
evil, in the manner as it is a private one. If there 
be a nation, for inftance that experts its beef and li- 
nen, to pay for the importation of claret and porter, 
while a great part of its people live upon potatoes, and 
wear no Hurts ; wherein does it differ from the fot 
who lets his family ftarve, and fells his clothes to 
buy drink ? Our American commerce is, I confefs, a 
little in this way. We fell our victuals to the iilands 
for rum and fugar ; the fubftantial neceilaries of life 
for fupeifluities. But we have plenty, and live well 
neverthelefs, though, by being foberer, we might be 
richer. 

The vaft quantity of foreft land we have yet to 
clear, and put in order for cultivation, will for a long 
time keep the body of our nation laborious and frugal. 
Forming an opinion of our people and their manners, 

by 



>36 



ESS A Y S. 



by what is Teen among the inhabitants of the fea-ports, 
is judging from an improper fample. The people of 
the trading towns may be rich and luxurious, while 
the country poffefles all the virtues that tend to pro- 
mote bappinefs and public prosperity. Thole towns 
are not much regarded by the country.; they are hard- 
ly CQiiiidercd as an efTential part of the ftates ; and the 
experience of the laft war has fbewn that their being 
in the poffefiion of the enemy did not neceffarily draw 
on the fubjeclion of the country, which bravely con- 
tinued to maintain its freedom and independence not- 
withltanding. 

It has been computed by fome political arithmeti- 
cian, that if every man and woman would work for 
four hours each day on lbmething ufefut, that labour 
would produce fufficient to procure all the neceffaries 
and comforts of life ; want and mifery would be ba- 
nifhed out of the world, and the reft of the twenty-four 
hours might be leifure and pleafure. 

What occafions then fo much want and mifery? It 
is the employment of men and women in works that 
produce neither the neceiTaries or conveniencies of life, 
who, with thofe who do nothing, confume neceiTaries 
railed by the laborious. To explain this : 

The firit elements of wealth are obtained by labour, 
from the earth and waters. 1 have land, and raife corn. 
With this, if I feed a family that does nothing my 
corn will be confirmed, and at the end of the year I 
mall be no richer than I was at the beginning. But 
if, while I feed them, I employ them, fome in fpinning, 
others in -making bricks, &c. for building, the value of 
my corn will be arrefled and remain with me, and at 
the end of the year we may be all better clothed and 
better lodged. And if, infread of employing a man I 
feed in making bricks, I employ him in fiddling for me, 
the corn he eats is gone, and no part of his manufac- 
ture remains to augment the wealth and convenience 
of the family ; I (ball therefore be the poorer for this 
fiddling man, unleis the red of my family work 

more 



ESSAYS. 237 

more, or eat lefs, to make up the deficiency he oc- 
cafions. 

Lcok round the world, and fee the- millions em- 
ployed in doing nothing, or in fomcthing that amounts 
to nothing, when the necefTaries and conveniences of 
life are in queftion. What is the bulk of commerce, 
for which we fight and deftroy each other, but the 
toil of millions for fuperfluities, to the great hazard 
and lofs of many lives, by the conftant dangers of the 
fea ? How much labour is {pent in building and fitting 
great (hips, to go to China and Arabia for tea and cof- 
fee, to the Weft-Indies for fugar, to America for to- 
bacco ? Thefe things cannot be called the necefTaries 
of life, for cur anceftors lived very comfortably with- 
out them. 

A queftion may be afked ; Could all thefe people 
now employed in railing, making, or carrying fuper- 
fluities, be fub lifted' by railing necefTaries ? I think they 
might. The world is large, and a great part of it 
fiill uncultivated. Many hundred millions of acres in 
Afia, Africa, and America, are ftill in a foreft ; and a 
great deal even in Europe. On a hundred acres of this 
foreft, a man might become a fubftantial farmer ; and 
a hundred thoufand men employed in clearing each his 
hundred acres, would hardly brighten a fpot big enough 
to be vifible from the moon, unlefs with Herichel's 
telefcope ; fo vaft are the regions ftill in wood. 

It is however fome comfort to reflecl:, that, upon 
the whole, the quantity of induftry and prudence a- 
mong mankind exceeds the quantity of idlenefs and 
folly. Hence the increafe of good buildings, farms 
cultivated, and populous cities filled with wealth, all 
over Europe, which a few years fmce were only to 
be found on the coaft of the Mediterranean ; and this 
notwithftanding the mad wars continually raging, by 
which are often deftroyed in one year the works of ma- 
ny years peace. So that we may hope, the luxury of 
a few merchants on the coaft will not be the ruin of 
America. 

One 
U 



238 ESSAYS. 

One reflection more, and I will end this long ram- 
bling letter. Almoft all the parts of our bodies re- 
quire ibmeexpence. The feet demand fhoes ; the legs 
ftockings ; the reft of the body clothing ; and the belly 
a good deal of victuals. Our eyes, tho' exceedingly 
ufeful, afk, when reasonable, only the cheap afliftance 
of fpe&acles, which could not much impair our finan- 
ces. But the eyes of other people are the eyes that 
ruin us. If all but myfelf were blind, I fhould 
want neither fine clothes, fine houies, nor fine furni- 
ture. 



ON THE SLAVE TRADE. 



JLY EADING in the newfpapers the fpeech of Mr. 
Jackfon in congrefs, againft meddling with the af- 
fair of flavery, or attempting to mend the condition 
of flaves, it put me in mind of a fimilar fpeech, made 
about an hundred years fince, by Sidi Mehemet Ibra- 
him, a member of the divan of Algiers, which may- 
be feen in Martin's account of his confulfhip, 1687. 
It was againft. granting the petition of the fedt called 
Erika or Purists, who prayed for the abolition of piracy 
and ilavery, as being unjuft. — Mr. Jackfon does not 
quote it ; perhaps he has not feen it. If, therefore, 
fome of its reafonings are to be found in his eloquent 
fpeech, it may only fhew that men's interefts operate, 
and are operated on, with furprifing fimilarity, in all 
countries and climates, whenever they are under fimi- 
lar circmftances. The African fpeech, as tranilated, 
is as follows : 

« Alia 



ESSAYS. 239 

" Alia Bifmillah, he. God is great, and Mahomet 
is his prophet. 

" Have thefe Erika confidered the confequences 
of granting their petition ? 

If we ceafe our cruifes againft the Chriftians, 
how fhall we be furnifhed with the commodities 
their countries produce, and which are fo necefTary for 
us ? If we forbear to make flaves of their people, whs 
in this hot climate, are to cultivate our lands ? Who 
are to perform the common labours of cur city, and 
Lir families? Muft we not then be our own (laves? 
And is there not more companion and more favour 
due to us Muffulmen* than to thofe Chriftian dogs ? 
— We have now above fifty thoufand ilaves in and 

r Algiers. This number, if not kept up by frefh 
fupplies, will foon diminifli, and be gradually annihila- 
ted. Ji\ then, we ceafe taking and plundering the in- 
fidel mips, and making ilaves of the feamen and paf- 
fengers, our lands will become of no value, for want 
of cultivation ; the rents of houfes in the city will (ink 
cue half; and the revenues of government, arifing 
from the fhare of prizes, muft be totally deftroyed ?— 
And [\k what ? To gratify the whim of a whimfical 
. who would have us not only forbear making more 
Haves, but even manumit thofe we have. But who is 
to indemnify their m afters for the lofs ? Will the 
ft ate do it ? Is our treafury fufhxient ? Will the Erika 
do it ? Can they do it ? Or would they, to do what 
they think juftice to the ilaves, do a greater injuftice 
to the owners? And if we fet our (laves free, what is 
to be done with them ? Few of them will return to 
their native countries; they know too well the great- 
er hardfhips they muft there be fubjecl to. They will 
not embrace our holy religion; they will not adopt 
our manners : our people will not pollute themfelverj 
by intermarrying with them. Muft we maintain them 
as beggars in our ftreets ; or fuffer our properties to 
be the prey of their pillage? For men accuftomed to 
ilaverv, will not work for a livelihood, when net com- 
pelled. — And what is there fo pitiable in their prefent 
condition ? Were they not (laves in their own coun- 
tries ? 



24° ESSAYS. 

tries? Are not Spain, Portugal, France, and the 
Italian dates, governed by defpots, who hold all their 
ftibjecls in flavery, without exception? Even England 
treats her failors as flaves, for they are, whenever the 
government pleafes, feized, and confined in (hips of 
war, condemned, not only to work, but to fight for 
fmall wages, or a mere fubddence, not better than our 
ilaves are allowed by us. Is their condition then made 
worfe by their falling into our hands? No; they 
have only exchanged one flavery for another ; and I 
may fay a better ; for here they are brought into a 
land where the fun of Iflamifm gives forth its light, 
and mines in full fplendor, and they have an opportu- 
nity of making themfelves acquainted with the true 
doctrine, and thereby faving their immortal fouls. — 
Thofe who remain at home have not that happinefs. 
Sending the flaves home, then, would be lending them 
out of light into darknefs* 

CJ I repeat the quedion, what is to be done with 
them? I have heard it fuggefted, that they may be 
planted in the wildernefs, where there is plenty of land 
for them to fubdd on, and where they may flourifh 

as a free Hate. But they are, 1 doubt, too little 

difpofed to labour without compulfion, as well as too 
ignorant to eftablifh good government : and the wild 
Arabs would foon moled and dedroy, or again en ft aye 
them. While ferving us, we take care to pr< 
thgci with every thing; and they are treated with hu- 
manity. The labourers in their own countries, are^ 
as I am informed, worfe fed, lodged, and clothed. — 
The condition of mod of them is therefore already 
mended, and requires no farther improvement. Here 
their lives are in fafety. i hey are not liable to be im- 
prefied for fcldiers, and forced to cut one another's 
Chridian throats, as in the wars of their own countries. 
If feme of the religious mad bigots who now teafe us 
with their iiliy petitions, have, in a fit of blind zeal, 
freed their flaves, it was not generofity, it was not 
humanity that moved them to the action; it was from 
the confeious burthen of a load of fins, and hope, from 

the 



E i S A Y S. 24I 

the fuppofed merits of Co good a work, to be excufed 
from damnation. — How grofsly are they rniftaken, in 
imagining flavery to be difavowed by the Alcoran ? 
Are not the two precepts, to quote no more, " Mas- 
ters, treat your flaves with kindneis — Slaves, ferve 
your mailers with cheerfulnefs and fidelity," clear 
proofs to the contrary? Nor can the plundering of 
infidels be in that facred book forbidden ; fince it is 
well known from it, that God has given the world, 
and all that it contains, to his faithful Muffulmen, who 
are to enjoy it, of right, as faft as they can conquer 
it. Let us then hear no more of this deteflable propo- 
rtion, the manumiflion of Chriftian flaves, the adopti- 
on of which would, by depreciating our lands and 
houfes, and thereby depriving fo many good citizens 
of their properties, create nniverfal difcontent, and 
provoke infurrections, to the endangering of govern- 
ment, and producing general confufion. I have, 
therefore, no doubt that this wife council will prefer 
the comfort and happinefs of a whole nation of true be- 
lievers, to the whim of a few Erika, and difmifs their 
petition.'* 

The refult was, as Martin tells us, that the Divan 
came to this refolution : " That the doctrine, that the 
" plundering and enflaving the Chrifiians is unjuft, is 
" at beft problematical ; but that it is the intereft of 
" this Mate to continue the practice, is clear ; there- 
of fore, let the petition be rejected." — And it was re- 
jected accordingly. 

And (ince like motives are apt to produce, in the 
minds of men, like opinions and refolutions, may we 
not venture to predict, from this account, that the pe- 
titions to the parliament of England for abolifhing- the 
flave-trade, to fay nothing of other legidatures* and 
the debates upon them, will have a fimilar coatlufion. 



March 23) 1790. 



HISTORICUS, 



U 2 



ESSAYS. 



OBSERVATIONS ON WAR. 



B 



>Y the original law of nations, war and extirpati- 
on were the punifhment of injury. Humanizing by- 
degrees, it admitted flavery in (lead of death : a farther 
flep was the exchange of prifoners inftead of flavery ; 
another, to reipecl more the property of private per- 
fons under conqueft, and be content with acquired do- 
minion. Why fhould not this law of nations go on 
improving ? Ages have intervened between its feve- 
ral fleps : but as knowledge of late increaies rapidly, 
why fhould not thofe fteps be quickened ? Why fhould 
it not be agreed to, as the future law of nations, that 
in any war hereafter the following 1 defcription of men 
fhould be undiilurbed, have the protection of both fides, 
and be permitted to follow their employments in fecu- 
rity ? viz. 

i. Cultivators of the earth, becaufe they labour for 
the fubfiftence of mankind. 

2. Fifhermen, for the fame reafon. 

3. Merchants and traders in unarmed (hips, who 
accommodate different nations by communicating and 
exchanging the neceffanes and conveniences of life. 

4. Artifts and mechanics, inhabiting and working 
in open towns. 

It is hardly neceffary to add, that the hofpitals of 
enemies fhould be unmolefted — they ought to be afiift- 
ed. It is for the intereft of humanity in general, that 
the occafions of war, and the inducements to it, fhould 
be diminifhed. If rapine be abolifhed, one of the en- 
couragements to war is taken away; and peace there- 
fore more likely to continue and be lafting. 

The 



E S S A Y S. 243 

The practice of robbing merchants on the high Teas 
- — a remnant of the ancient piracy — though it may be 
accidentally beneficial to particular perfons, is far from 
being profitable to all engaged in it, or to the nation 
that authorifes it. In the beginning of a war fome 
rich fhips are furprifed and taken. This encourages 
the firlt adventurers to fit out more armed veffels, and 
many others to do the fame. But the enemy at the 
fame time become more careful, arm their' merchant 
fhips better, and render them not fo eafy to be takea ; 
they go alfo more under the protection of convoys.— 
Thus, while the privateers to take them are multipli- 
ed, the veffels fubjecl to be taken, and the chances of 
profit are diminiuhed ; fo that many cruifes are made, 
wherein the expences overgo the gains ; and, as is 
the cafe in other lotteries, though particulars have got 
prizes, the mafs of adventurers are lofers, the whole 
expence of fitting out all the privateers during a war 
being much greater than the whole amount of goods 
taken. 

Then there is the national lofs of all the labour of 
fo many men during the time they have been employ- 
ed in robbing ; who befides fpend what they get in 
riot, drunkennefs, and debauchery ; lofe their habits 
of induftry ; are rarely fit for any fober bufinefs after 
a peace, and ferve only toincreaie the number of high- 
waymen and houfe-breakers. Even the undertakers 
who have been fortunate, are, by fudden wealth, led 
into expenuve living, the habit of which continues 
when the means of fupporting it ceafe, and finally ruins 
them : a jufl punifhment for having wantonly and un- 
feelingly ruined many honeft innocent traders and their 
families, whofe fubftance was employed in ferving the 
common intcreft of mankind. 



2 44 ESSAYS, 



ON THE 
IMPRESS OF SEA. MEN. 



Notes copied from Dr. Franklin's w? iting in pencil in 
the margin of Judge Foster's celebrated argument in 
favour of the Impressing of Seamen (published 
in the folio edition of his works. J 



JUDGE Fofter, p. 158. "Every Man."— The 
conclufion here from the whole to a part) does not 
feem to be good logic. If the alphabet Ihould lay, 
Let us all fight for the defence of the whole ; that is 
equal, and may therefore be juft. But if they ihould 
fay, Let A, B, C, and D, go out and fight for us, 
while we flay at home and fleep in whole fkins ; that 
is not equal, and therefore cannot be juft. 

16, '* Employ." — If you pleafe. The word figni- 
fies engaging a man to work for me, by offering him 
fuch wages as aie fufficient to induce him to prefer 
iny fervice. This is very different from compelling 
him to work on fuch terms as I think proper. 

16. " This fervice and employment, Sec." — Thefe 
are falfe fa els. His employments and fervice are not 
the fame — Under the merchant-he goes in an unarmed 
veffel, not obliged to fight, but to tranfport merchan- 
dife. In the king's fervice he is obliged to fight, and 
to hazard all the dangers of battle. Sicknefs on board 
of king's mips is alfo more common and more mortal* 
The merchant's fervice too he can quit at the end of 

the 



ESSAYS. 245 

the voyage ; not the king's. Alfo, the merchant's 
wages are much higher. 

lb. " I am very fenfible, &.c." — Here are two 
things put in companion that are not comparable : 
viz. injury to feamen, and inconvenience to trade. 
Inconvenience to the whole trade of a nation will not 
juftify injuftice to a Tingle Teaman. If the trade would 
fufFer without his fervice, it is able and ought to be 
willing to offer him fiich wages as may induce him to 
afford his fervice voluntarily* 

Page 159. " Private mifchief mu ft be borne with 
u patience, for preventing a natic mity.*' — 

Where i< th : s maxim in law and good pJicy to be 
1 ? And how can that be a maxim which is not 
confident with common {tvSt ? - lf the maxim had been, 
that private mifchief, which, prevent a national cala- 
mity, ought to be generoufly compensated by the 
nation, one might underhand it : bat thai fuch pri- 
vate mifchiefs are only to be borne with patience, is 
abfurd! 

lb. u The expedient, Sec. And, Ike," (Paragraphs 
2 and 3.) — Twenty ineffectual or inconvenient fchemes 
will not juftify one that is unjuft. 

lb, u Upon the foot of, 8tc." — Your reafoning, 
indeed, like a lie, (lands but upon cwt fiot ; truth up- 
on two. 

Page 160. u Full wages." — Probably the fame they 
had in the merchant's fervice. 

Page 174. " I hardly admit, &c." (Paragraph 5) 
— When this ?uthor fpeaks of impicffmg, page 158, 
he diminifhes the horror of the practice as much as 
poiTlble, by prefenting to the mind one failor only fuf- 
fering hardship (as he tenderly calls it) in fome par- 
ticular cases only : and he places againft this private 
mifchief the inconvenience to the trade of the king- 
dom.— But if, as he fuppofes is often the cafe, the fail- 
or who is prefled, and obliged to ferve for the defence 
of trade, at the rate of twenty five {hillings a month, 
could get three pounds fifteen (hillings in the mer- 
chant's fervice, you take from him fifty {hillings a 

month : 



246 ESSAYS. 

month; and if you have 100,000 in your fervice, 
you rob this honelr induftrious part of fociety, and their 
poor families of 250,0001. per month, or three millions 
a year, and at the fame time oblige them to hazard 
their lives in fighting for the defence of yo^r trade ; 
to the defence of which all ought indeed to co. 
bute (and failors among the red) in proportion to their 
profits by it ; but this three millions is more than 
their (hare, if they did not pay with their perfons ; but 
when you force that, methinks you mould excufe the 
other. 

Bat it may be fnid, to give the king's feamen mer- 
chant's wages would coil the nation too much, and 
call for more taxes. The que Prion then will am 
to this: whether it be jufl in a community, that the 
richer part mould compel the poorer to fight in de- 
fence of them and their properties, for fuch wag 
they think fit to allow, and punifh them if they re- 
fufe ? Our author tells us that it is " legal*' I : 
not law enough to diipute his authorities, but I can- 
not perfuade myfelf that it is equitable. I will, h 
ever, own for the prefent, that it may be lawful v 
neceffary ; but when I contend that it may be ufedfo 
as to produce the fame good effects — the public security 
without doing fo much intolerable injuOice as att< 
the imprefling common feamen. — In order to he bet- 
ter underftood, I would premife two things; Firft, 
voluntary feamen may be had for the fervice, if they 
were fuificiently paid. The proof is, that to ftrve in 
the fame fnip, and incur the fame danger^ you have 
no occaficn to imprefs captains, lieutenant , fecond lieu- 
tenants, midfhipman, purfers, nor many other officers* 
Why, but that the profits of their places, or the emo- 
luments expected, are fufneient inducements? The 
bufinefs then is, to find money, by imprefling, fufnei- 
ent to make the failors all volunteers, as well as their 
officers ; and this without any frem burthen upon 
trade. — The fecond of my premifes is, that twenty- 
five (hillings a month, with his (hare of fait beef, pork, 
and peafe-puddingj being found fufficient for the fnb- 

Gftence 



ESSAYS. 247 

(iftence of a hard-working Teaman, it will certainly be 
fo for a fedentary fcholar or a gentleman. I would 
then propofe to form a treafury, out of which encou- 
ragements to feamen mould be paid. To nil this trea- 
fury, I would imprefs a number of civil officers, who 
at prefent have great falaries, oblige them to ferve in 
their refpeclive offices for twenty-five millings a month, 
with their fhares of mefs provifions, and throw the reft 
of their falaries into the teamen's treafury. If fuch a 
prefs-w arrant were given me to execute, the firft I 
would prefs fhould be a Recorder of Briftol, or a Mr. 
Juftice Fofter, becaufe I might have need of his edify- 
ing example, to ihow how much impreffing ought to 
be borne with ; for he would certainly find, that 
though to be reduced to twenty-five (hillings a month 
might be a private mischief, yet that, agreeably to his 
maxim of law and good policy, it ought to be borne 
with patience, for preventing a national calamity. 
Then I would prefs the reft of the judges ; and, open- 
ing the red book, I would prefs every civil officer of 
government from 50I. a year falary, up to 50,000!. 
which would throw an immenfe fum into our treafury : 
and thefe gentlemen could not complain, fmce they 
would receive twenty-five {hillings a month, and their 
rations ; and this without being obliged to fight. 
Ladly, I think I would imprefs***. 






248 ESSAYS. 



On the CRIMINAL LAWS, and the PRAC- 
TICE of PRIVATEERING. 

Letter to Benjamin Vaughan, Eso^. 
March 14, 1785. 

MY DEAR FRIEND, 



A. 



.MONG the pamphlets you lately fent me,' was 
one, entitled, Thoughts on Executive justice. In re- 
turn fcr that, I fend you one on the fame fubjeft', 
Observations coneemdnt /> Execution de V Article IT. 
de la Declaration sur le Vol. They are both addreffed 
to the judges, and written, as you will fee, in a very 
different fpirit. The Englifti author is for hanging #// 
thieves. The Frenchman is for proportioning punish- 
ments to offences. 

If ws really believe, as we profefs to believe, that 
the law of Moles was the law of God, the dictate of 
divine wifdom, infinitely fuperior to human ; on what 
principles do we ordain death as the punifhment of an 
offence, which, according to that law, was only to be 
punifhed by a reftitution of four-fold ? To put a man 
to death for an offence which does not deferve death, 
is it not a murder ? And, as the French writer fays, 
Doit-on punir un delit contre la societe par un crime 
centre la nature. 

Superfluous property is the creature of fociety. 
Simple and mild laws were fufficient to guard the pro- 
perty 



je s s a y s. 249 

perty that was merely neceflary. The favage's bow, 
his hatchet, and his coat of fcins, were fufficiently fe- 
cured, without law, by the fear of perfonal refentment 
and retaliation. When, by virtue of the firft laws, 
part of the fociety accumulated wealth, and grew pow- 
erful, they enacted others more fevere, and would pro- 
tect their property at the expence of humanity. This 
was abufing their power, and commencing a tyranny. 
If a favage, before he entered into fociety, had been 
told — u Your neighbour, by this means, may become 
44 owner of an hundred deer ; but if your brother, or 
14 your fon, or yourfelf, having no deer of your own, 
44 and being hungry, fhould kill one, an infamous death 
44 muft be the conference:" — he would probably have 
preferred his liberty, and his common right of killing 
any deer, to all the advantages of fociety that might 
be propofed to him. 

That it is better a hundred guilty perfons mould ef- 
cape, than that one innocent perfon (hould fuffer, is a 
maxim that has been long and generally approved ; 
never, that I know of, controverted. Even the fan- 
guinary author of the Thoughts; agrees to it, adding 
well, «* that the very thought of injured innocence, 
44 and much more that of suffering innocence, muft 
44 awaken all our tendered and mod companionate 
H feelings, and at the fame time raife our higheft: in- 
" dignation againft the inlhuments of it. But, (he 
adds) there is no danger of either, from a ftricl: ad- 
herence to the laws." Really ! — Is it then impoffible 
to make an unjuft law ? and if the law itfeif be un- 
jufl, may it not be the very a inftrument" which ought 
to u raife the author's and every body's higheft indig- 
nation ?" I fee, in the laft newfpapers from London, 
that a woman is capitally convicted at the Old Bailey, 
for privately dealing out of a (hop fome gauze, value 
-fourteen (hillings and three pence: Is there any pro- 
portion between the injury done by a theft, value 
fourteen (hillings and three pence, and the punifhment 
of a human creature, by death, on a gibbit? Might 
not that woman, by her labour, have made the repa- 
ration 
X 



2J0 ESSAYS. 

ration ordained by God, in paying fourfold ? Is not 
all punifhment, inflicted beyond the merit of the of- 
fence, fo much punifhment of innocence ? In this ligiht, 
how van: is the annual quantity, of not only injured 
but suffering innocence, in almoit ail the civilized dates 
of Europe ! 

But itfeems to have been thought that this kind of 
innocence may be pun i (bed by way of preventing 
crimes. I have read, indeed, of a cruel Turk in Bar- 
bary, who, whenever he bought a new Christian flave, 
ordered him immediately to be hung up by the legs, 
and to receive a hundred blows of a cudgel on the foles 
of his feet, that the fevere fenfe of the punifhment, 
and fear of incurring it thereafter, might prevent the 
faults that fhould merit it. Our author himfelf would 
hardly approve entirely of this Turk's conduct in the 
government of ilaves ; and yet he appears to recom- 
mend fomething like it for the government of Englifh 
fubjects, when he applauds the reply of Judge Burnet 
to the convidt horfe-ftealer ; who being afked what he 
had to fay why judgment of death fhould not pals 
againft him, and anfwering, that it was hard to hang 
a man for only dealing a hoife, was told by the judge, 
u Man, thou art not to be hanged only for (tealing a 
horfe, but that horfes may not be ftolen." The man's 
anfwer, if candidly examined, will, I imagine, appear 
realonable, as being founded on the eternal principle 
of juftice and equity, that puniibments fhould be pro- 
portioned to offences, and the judge's reply brutal and 
unreafonable, though the writer "wifhes all judges to 
carry it with them whenever they go to the circuit, 
and to bear it in their minds, as containing a w T ife rea- 
fon for all the penal ftatutes which they are called up- 
on to put in execution. It at onee illuftrates, fays 
he, the true grounds and reaibns of all capital punifh.- 
ments whatfoever, namely, that erery man's property, 
as well as his life, may be held facred and inviolate." 
Is there then no difference in value between property 
and life? If I think it right that the crime of murder 
fhould be punifhed with death, not only as an equal 

punifhmeat 



ESSAYS. 25I 

punifhment of the crime, but to prevent other mur- 
ders, does it follow that I muft approve of the fame 
punifhment for a little invafion on my property by 
theft ? If I am not myfelf fo barbarous, fo bloody- 
minded, and revengeful, as to kill a fellow-creature 
for (tealing from me fourteen (hillings and three pence, 
how can I approve of a law that does it? Montefouieu, 
who was himielf a judge, endeavours to imprefs other 
maxims. He mult have known what humane judges 
feel on fuch occafions, and what the effects of thole 
feelings ; and, fo far from thinking that fevere and 
exceilive punifhments prevent crimes, he afferts, as 
quoted by our French writer, that 

u L'atrocite des loix en emptche I' execution* 

a Lorsque la peine est sans mesure y on est souvent 
" oblige de ltd prefer er VimpunitL 

" La cause des tous les reldcbemens vient de Vim- 
u punite des crimes y et non de la moderation des 
u pet ties*" 

It is faid by thofe who know Europe generally, that 
there are more thefts committed and punifhed annual- 
ly in England than in all the other nations put toge- 
ther. If this be ib, there muft be a caufe or caufes 
for fuch depravity in our Common people. May not 
one be the deficiency of juftice and morality in our na- 
tional government, manifefted in our oppreflive con- 
duel to fubjecls, and unjufl wars on our neighbours ? 
View the long-perfifled in, unjufl, monopolizing treat- 
ment of Ireland, at length acknowledged I View the 
plundering government exercifed by our merchants in 
the Indies ; the confifcating war made upon the Ame- 
rican colonies ; and, to lay nothing of thofe upon 
France and Spain, view the late war upon Holland, 
which was feen by impartial Europe in no other light 
than that of a war in rapine and pillage ; the hopes of 
an immenie and eafy prey being its only apparent, and 
probably its true and real motive and encouragement. 

Juftice 



%$Z ESSAYS. 

Juftice is as ftri&ly due between neighbour nations as 
between neighbour citizens, A highwayman is as 
much a robber when he plunders in a gang, as when 
Tingle ; and a nation that makes an unjuft war is only 
a great gang. After employing your people in robbing 
the Dutch, is it ftrange that, being out of that em- 
ploy by peace, they (till continue robbing, and rob one 
another ? Piraterie^ as the French call it, or priva- 
teering, is the univerfal bent of the Englilh nation, at 
home and abroad, wherever fettled. No lefs than fe- 
vcn hundred privateers were, it is faid, commiflloned 
in the lalt war ! Thefe were fitted out by merchants, 
to prey upon other merchants, who had never done 
them any injury. Is there probably any one of thofe 
privateering merchants of London, who were fo ready 
to rob the merchants of Amflerdam, that would not as 
readily plunder another London merchant of the next 
ftreet, if he could do it with the fame impunity ! The 
avidity, the alien! appetens is the fame ; it is the fear 
alone of the gallows that makes the difference. How 
then can a nation, which, amongft the honefteft of its 
people, has fo many thieves by inclination, and whofe 
government encouraged and commiffioned no lefs than 
ieven hundred gangs of robbers ; how can fuch a nati- 
on have the face to condemn the crime in individuals, 
and hang up twenty of them in a morning! It natu- 
rally puts one in mind of a Newgate anecdote. One 
of the prifoners complained, that in the night fome- 
body had taken his buckles out of his (hoes. u What 
the devil 1" fays another, H have we then thieves 
amongft us ? It mull not be fufFered, Let us fearch 
out the rogue, and pump him to death. 

There is, however, one lateinftance of an Englifh 
merchant who will not profit by fuch ill-gotten gain. 
He was, it feems, part owner of a fhip, which the 
other owners thought fit to employ as a letter of 
marque, and which took a number of French prizes. 
The booty being (hared, he has now an agent here en- 
quiring, by an advertifement in the Gazette, for thofe 
who fufFered the lots, in order to make them, as far 

as 



ESSAYS. 253 

as in him lies, reftitution. This confcientious man is 
a Quaker. The Scotch Prefbyterians were formerly 
as tender ; for there is ftill extant an ordinance of the 
town-council of Edinburgh, made foon after the Re- 
formation, " forbidding the purchafe of prize goods, 
under pain of loving the freedom of the burgh forever, 
with other punifbment at the will of the magistrate ; 
the practice of making prizes being contrary to good 
conlcience, and the rule of treating Chriftian brethren 
as we would wilh to be treated ; and fuch goods ar& 
nst to be sold by any godly men within this burgh."— 
The race of thefe godly men in Scotland is probably 
extinct, or their principles abandoned, fince, as far as 
that nation had a hand in promoting the war againft 
the colonies, prizes and confiscations are believed to 
have been a confiderable motive* 

It has been for forne time a generally received opi- 
nion, that a military man is not to enquire whether a 
war be juft or unjuft ; he is to execute his orders- 
All princes who are difpofed to become tyrants, mult 
probably approve of this opinion, and be willing to 
eftabliih it; but is it not a dangerous one? fince, on 
that principle, if the tyrant commands his army to at- 
tack and deftroy, not only an unoffending neighbour 
nation, but even his own Subjects, the army is bound 
to obey. A negro Have, in our colonies, being com- 
manded by his mafter to rob or murder a neighbour, or 
do any other immoral act, may refufe ; and the ma- 
gistrate will protect him in his refufal. The flavery 
then of a foldier is worfe than that of a negro ! A con- 
fcientious officer, if not retrained by the apprehenfton 
of its being imputed to another caufe, may indeed re- 
fign, rather than be employed in an unjuft war, but 
the private men are (laves for life ; and they are per- 
haps incapable of judging for themfelves. We can 
only lament their fate, and (till more that of a tailor, 
who is often dragged by force from his honeft occupa- 
tion, and compelled to imbrue his hands in perhaps in- 
nocent blocd, But methinks it well behoves mer- 
chants (men more enlightened by thfrir education, and 

perfectly 
Xz 



2-74 ESSAYS. 

perfectly free from any fuch force or obligation Jrto cond* 
der well of the juftice of a war, before they voluntari- 
ly engage a gang of ruffians to attack their fellow-mer- 
chants of a neighbouring nation, to plunder them of 
their property, and perhaps ruin them and their fami- 
lies, if they yield it: or to wound, maim, and murder 
them, if they attempt to defend it. Yet thefe things 
are done by Chriftian merchants, whether a war be 
juft or unjuft; and it can hardly be juft on both fides. 
They are done by Englifli and American merchants, 
who, neverthelefs, complain of private theft, and hang 
by dozens the thieves they have taught by their own 
example. 

It is high time, for the fake of humanity, that aftop 
were put to this enormity. The United States of 
America, though better fituated than any European 
nation to make profit by privateering*, (moft of the 
trade of Europe with the Weft-Indies palling before 
their doors) are, as far as in them lies, endeavouring 
to abolifh the practice, by offering, in all their treaties 
with other powers, an article, engaging folemnly, that 
in cafe of future war, no privateer (hall be commiflion- 
ed on either fide ; and that unarmed merchant-fhips, 
on both fides, (hall purfue their voyages unmolefted.* 
This will be a happy improvement of the law of nati- 
ons. The humane and the juft cannot but wifh gene- 
ral fuccefs to the propofition. 

With unchangeable efteem and affection, 

I am > my dear friend, 

Ever yours. 

* This offer having been accepted by the Ute king of Pruffia, a 
treaty of amity and commerce ivas concluded between that monarch 
**4 the United States, containing the following humane, philan- 
thropic article , in the formation of which Dr. Franklin, as one 
of the American plenipotentiaries } was principally concerned, i>/*. 



ESSAYS. 2.55 



REMARKS CONCERNING THE -SAVAGES 
OF NORTH AMERICA. 



OAVAGES we call them, becaufe their manners 
differ from ours, which we think the perfection of 
civility ; they think the fame of theirs. 

Perhaps, if we could examine the manners of dif- 
ferent nations with impartiality, we fhould find no 
people fo rude as to be without any rules of politeneis; 
nor any fo polite as not to have fome remains of rude- 
nefs, 

The 



ART. XXIII. 

If war Jhouhi arife between the two contrasting parties, the 
met chants of either country , then refding in the other, Jhall be al- 
lowed to remain nine months to collet! their debts and fettle their 
affairs, and may depart freely, carrying off their effecls without 
molejlation or hindrance I and all women and children, fcholars of 
every faculty, cultivators of the earth, artifans, manufacturers f 
and fifhermen, unarmed and inhabiting unfortified towns, villages, 
cr places, and in general all others whofe occupations are for the 
common fubffence and bereft of mankind, fhall be allowed to con- 
tinue their iefpecliie em [>/ry merits, and fiall not be molefied in their 
per fans, nor Jhall the'n houses or goods be burned, or otherwife de- 
frayed, nor their fields <mafied, by the armed force of the enemy 
into whfe power, by the events of war, they may happen to fall ' 
hut if any thing is necejjary to be taken from them for the ufe of 
fuch armed force, the fame Jhall be paid for at a rcafonable price. — 
And all merchant and trading veffsls employed in exchanging the 
producls of different places, a d thereby rendering the ncceffarics^ 
convenicnoies, and comforts of human life more eafy to be obtained, 
and more general, Jliall be allowed to pa fs free and unmolcfed ; and 
neither of the contracting powers fhall grant or iffue any commiffiatt 
to any private armed veffe Is empowering them tot ah Q> dtflroy fueh 
trading veffels^ cr interrupt fuch commerce* 



ij6 



ESSAYS, 



The Indian men, when young, are hunters and war- 
riors ; when old, counfettors ; for all their government 
is by the counfel or advice of fages ; there is no force 
there are no prifons, no officers to compel obedience, 
or inflict punifhment. Hence they generally ftudy 
oratory ; the bed fpeaker having the mod influence. 
The Indian women till the ground, dreis the food, 
liurfe and bring up the children, and preferve and 
hand down to pcfterity the memory of public tranf- 
adtions. Tiiefe employments of men and women are 
accounted natural and honourable. Having few arti- 
ficial wants, they have abundance of leifure for im- 
provement by converfation. Our laborious manner 
of life, compared with theirs, they efteem ilavifh and 
bale; and the learning on which we value ourfelves, 
they regard as frivolous and ufelefs. An inftance of 
this occurred at the treaty of Lancafier, in Penniylva- 
nia, anno 1744, between the government of Virginia 
and the Six nations. After the principal bufinels was 
fettled, the commifiioners from Virginia acquainted 
the Indians by a fpeech, that there was at William f- 
burg a college, with a fund, for educating Indian youth ; 
and that if the chiefs of the Six Nations would fend 
down half a dozen of their fons to that college, the go- 
vernment would take care that they fhouldbe well provi- 
ded for, and inftru died in all the learning of the white peo- 
ple. It is one of the Indian rules of politenefs net to an- 
fwer a public proportion the fame day that it is made ; 
they think it would be treating it as a light matter ; 
and they (hew it refpedl by taking time to conHder it, 
as of a matter important. They therefoie deferred 
their anfwer till the day following; when their fpeak- 
er began, by expreffing their deep fenie of the kind- 
nefs of the Virginia government, 111 making them that 
offer; " for we know (f ys he) that you highly efteem 
the kind of learning taught in thole colleges, and that 
the maintenance of cur young men, while with you, 
would be very expenfive to you. We are convinced, 
therefore,, that you mean to do us g*ocu by your propo- 
fal, and we thank you heartily. But you who are 

wile 



E S S A Y S'. 257 

wife mull know, that different nations have different 
conceptions of things ; and you will therefore not take 
it amifs, if our ideas of this kind of education happen 
not to be the fame with yours. We have had ibme 
experience of it : feveral of our young people were 
formerly brought up at the cr lieges of the northern 
provinces ; they were inftru&ed in all your fciences ; 
but when they came back to us, they were bad run- 
ners ; ignorant of every means of living in the wocds ; 
unable to bear either cold or hunger ; knew neither 
how to build a cabin, take a deer, or kill an enemy ; 
fpoke our language imperfectly ; were therefore nei- 
ther fit for hunters, warriors, or counfellors ; they were 
totally good for nothing. We are however not the 
lefs obliged by your kind offer, though we decline ac- 
cepting it: and to (how our grateful lenfe of it, if the 
gentlemen of Virginia will fend us a dozen of their 
ions, we will take great care of their education, in- 
ftrucl: them in all we know, and make men of them." 
Having frequent occafion to hold public councils, 
they have acquired great older and decency in con- 
dueling them. The old men fit in the foremen 1 ranks, 
the warriors in the next, and the women and children 
in the hindmoft. The bufinefs of the women is to 
take exact notice of what pafTes, imprint it in their 
memories, for they have no writing, and communicate 
it to their children. They are the records of the 
council, and they preferve tradition of the ftipulations 
in treaties a hundred years back ; which, when we 
compare with our writings, we always find exacl. He 
that would fpeak, rifes. The reft obferve a profound 
filence. When he has finifhed, and fits down, they 
leave him five or fix minutes to recollect, that, if he 
has omitted any thing he intended to fay, or has any 
thing to add, he may rife again, and deliver it. To 
interrupt another, even in common converfation, is 
reckoned highly indecent. How different this is from 
the conduct of a polite Britilh Houfe o! Commons, 
where fcarce a day paffes, without feme confufion* 
that makes the fpeaker hoarfe in calling tg order ; and 

how 



258 ESSAYS. 

how different from the mode of converfation in many' 
polite companies of Europe, where if you do not de- 
liver your fentence with great rapidity, you are cut 
off in the middle of it by the impatient loquacity of 
thofe you converfe with, and never fufFered to finifh 
it! 

The politenefs of thefe favages in converfation, is 
indeed, carried to excels ; fmce it does not permit 
them to contradict or deny the truth of what is af- 
ferted in their prefence. By this means they indeed 
avoid difputes ; but then it becomes difficult to know 
their minds, or what impreffion you make upon them. 
The miffionaries who have attempted to convert them 
to Chriftianity, all complain of this as one of the great 
difficulties of their miffion. The Indians hear with 
patience the truths of the gofpel explained to them, 
and give their ufual tokens of aflent and approbation : 
you would think they were convinced. No fuch mat- 
ter. It is mere civility. 

A Swedifh minister having alTembled the chiefs of 
the Sufquehannah Indians, made a ferunon to them, 
acquainting them with the principal hiftorical facts on 
which our religion is founded: fuch as the fall of our 
fipft parents by eating an apple; the coming of Quid 
to repair the mifchief; his miracles and lufterings, Scc» 
— When he had nnifhed, an Indian orator ftoed up to 
thank him. " What you have told us," fays he, is all 
very good. It is indeed bad to eat apples. It is bet- 
ter to make them all into cyder. We are much obliged 
by .your kindnefs in coming fo far to tell us thofe things 
which you have heard from your mothers. In return 
I will tell you fome of thofe we have heard from 
ours. 

" In the beginning, our fathers had only the flefh 
of animals to fublift on ; and if their hunting was un- 
fuccefsful, they were ftarving. Two of our young 
hunters having killed a deer, made a fire in the woods 
to b/oil fome parts of it. When they were about to 
fatisfy their hunger, they beheld a beautiful young 
woman defcend from the clouds, and feat herfelf on 

that 



ESSAYS. 259 

that hill which you fee yonder among the Blue Moun- 
tains. Theyfaid to each other, it is a fpirit that per- 
haps has fmelt our broiling venifon, and wifhes to eat 
of it : let us offer fome to her, T hey prefented her 
with the tongue : (he was pleafed with the tafre of it, 
and laid, your kindnefs mail be rewarded. Come to 
this place after thirteen moons, and you iliall find 
fomething that will be of great benefit in nourifhing 
you and your children to the lateft generations. They 
did ih y and to their iurprife found plants they had ne- 
ver feen before ; but which, from that ancient time, 
have been conftantly cultivated among us, to our great 
advantage. Where her right hand had touched the 
ground, they found maize ; where her left hand had 
touched it, they found kidney-beans ; and where her 
backfide had fat on it, they found tobacco." The 
good miflionary, difgufled with this idle tale, faid, 
What I delivered to you, were facred truths ; but 
what you tell me, is mere fable, fiction and falfehood." 
The Indian, offended, replied; ** My brother, it feems 
your friends have not done you juhice in your educati- 
on ; they have not well ififtru&ed you in the rules of 
common civility. You faw that we, who underfrand 
and practile thole rules, believed all your ftories, why 
do you refufe to believe ours ?" 

♦ When any cf them come into our towns, our people 
are apt to crowd round them, gaze upon them, and 
incommode them where they defire to be private ; this 
theyefteem great rudenefs, and the effect of the want 
of inirruciion in the rules of civility and good man- 
ners. (i We have," fay they, " as much curiofity as 
44 you, and when you come into our towns, we wifh 
u for opportunities of looking at you; but for this 
" purpofe we hide ourfelves behind buihes where you 
i( are to pafs, and never intrude ourfelves into your 
" company." 

Their manner of entering one another's villages has 
likewife its rules. It is reckoned uncivil in travelling 
flrangers to enter a village abruptly, without giving 
notice cf their approach. Therefore, as food as they 

arrivfe 



l6o ESSAYS. 

arrive within hearing, they flop and hollow, remaining 
there till invited to enter. Two old men ufually come 
out to them, and lead them in. There is in every vil- 
lage a vacant dwelling, called the (Grangers* houfe. 
Here they are placed, while the old men go round from 
hut to hut, acquainting the inhabitants that flrangers 
are arrived, who are probably hungry and weary ; and 
every one fends them what he can fpare of victuals, 
and fkins to repofe on. When the flrangers are re- 
frefhed, pipes and tobacco are brought ; and then, but 
not before, converfation begins, with enquiries who 
they are, whither bound, what news, &c. and it ufu- 
ally ends with offers of iervice ; if the Grangers have 
occafion of guides, or any neceflaries for continuing 
their journey ; and nothing is exacted for the enter- 
tainment. 

The fame hofpitality, eftcemed among them as a 
principal virtue, is pra&ifed by private perfons ; of 
which Conrad Weiser, our interpreter, gave me the 
following inflance. He had been naturalized among 
the Six Nations, and fpoke well the Mohawk language. 
In going through the Indian country, to carry a mef- 
fage from our governor to the council at Onondago, he 
called at the habitation of Canassetego, an old acquain- 
tance, who embraced him, fpread furs for him to fit 
on, placed before him fome boiled beans and venifon, 
and mixed fome rum and water for his drink. When 
he was well refrefhed, and had lit his pipe, CanaiTete- 
go began to converfe with him : afked how he had 
fared the many years fince they had feen each other, 
whence he then came, what occafioned the journey, 
&c. Conrad anfwered all his queftions ; and when the 
difcourfe began to flag, the Indian, to continue it, faid, 
" Conrad, you have lived long among the white people, 
and know fomething of their cuftoms : I have been 
fometimes at Albany, and have obferved, that once 
in ieven days they fhut up their (hops, and afiemble 
all in the great houfe ; tell me what that is for ! What 
do they do there ?*' " They meet there," fays Conrad, 
ic to hear and learn good things." " I do not doubt," 

fays 



ESSAYS. 26l 

fays the Indian, " that they tfefl you fo ; they have 
told me the fame ; but I doubt the truth of what they 
fay, and I will tell you my reafons. I went lately to 
Albany, to fell my Ikins, and buy blankets, knives, 
powder, rum, 8cc. You know I ufed generally to deal 
with Hans Hanfon ; but I was a little inclined this 
time to try fome other merchants. However, I called 
firft upon Hans, and afked him what he would give 
for beaver. He faid he could not give more than four 
(hillings a pound ; but, fays he, I cannot talk on bu- 
iinefs now ; this is the day when we meet together to 
learn good things, and I am going to the meeting. So 
I thought to myfelf, iince I cannot do any bufineft 
to-day, I may as well go to the meeting too, and I 
went with him. There flood up a man in black, and 
began to talk to the people very angrily, I did not un- 
derhand what he faid ; but perceiving that he looked 
much at me, and at Hanfon, I imagined he was an- 
gry at feeing me there ; fo I went out, fat down near 
the houfe, (truck fire, and lit my pipe, waiting till the 
meeting (hould break up. I thought too that the man 
had mentioned fomething of beaver, and I fafpedled 
it might be the fubject of their meeting. So when 
they came out I accofted my merchant. " Well, 
" Hans," fays I, I hope you have agreed to give more 
" than four (hillings a pound." No, " fays he," 1 
u cannot give fo much, I cannot give more than three 
u fnillings and fix-pence." I then fpoke to feveral 
other dealers, but they all fung the fame fong, three 
and fix-pence, three aw d fix-pence. This made it clear 
to me that my fufpicion was right; and that what- 
ever they pretended of meeting to learn good things^ 
the purpofc was to confuk how to cheat Indians in the 
price of beaver. Confider but a little Conrad, and you 
mull be of my opinion. If they met fo often to learn 
gGod things, they would certainly have learned fome 
before this time. But they are dill ignorant. You 
know our pradlice. If a white man, in travelling 
through our country, enters one of our cabins, we all 

treat 
Y 



262 ESSAYS. 

him as I do you ; we dry him if he is wet ; we warm 
him if he is cold, and give him meat and drink, that 
he may allay his thirft and hunger; and we fpreadfoft 
furs for him to reft and fleep on: we demand nothing 
in return.* But if I go into a white man's houfe at 
Albany, and afk for victuals and drink, they fay, 
Where is your money ? and if I have none, they fay, 
Get out, you Indian dog. You fee they have not yet 
learned thofe little good things that we need no meet- 
ings to be inftrudled in, becaufe our mothers taught 
them to us when we were children ; and therefore it is 
impofllble their meetings mould be, as they fay, for any 
fuch purpofe, or have any fuch effect : they are only 
to contrive the cheating of Indians in the price of 
beaver " 

TO 



* It is remarkable, that in all ages and countries, 
hospitality has been allowed as the virtue of those, whom 
the civilized were pleased to call Barbarians ; the 
Greeks celebrated the Scythians Jor it. %he Saracens 
possessed it eminently, and it is to this day the reigning 
virtue of the wild Arabs. St. Paul too, in the relation 
of bis voyage and shipwreck on the island of Melita, 
says, " The barbarous people shewed us no little kindness; 
"for they kindled ajire, and received us every one, be- 
"cause of the present rain 9 and because of the cold.'* 
This note is taken frbm a small collection of Franklin's 
paper S) printed for Dilly\ 



ESSAYS. 263 



T O 

M. DUBOURG, 

Concerning the Dissensions between England and 
America. 

London, October 2, 1770. 

ft SEE with pie a (lire that we hink pretty much 
alike on the fubje&s of Englifh America. We of the 
colonies have never infilled that we ought to be ex- 
empt from contributing to the common expences ne- 
cefTary to fupport the profperity of the empire. We 
only a (Vert, that having parliaments of our own, and 
not having reprefentatives In that of Great Britain, 
our parliaments are the only judges of what we can 
and what we ought to contribute in this cafe : and 
that the Englifh parliament has no right to take our 
money without our confent. In fad, the Britifh em- 
pire is not a fingle Itate ; it comprehends many; and 
though the parliament of Great Britain has arrogated 
to itfelf the power of taxing the colonies, it has no 
more right to do fo, than it has to tax Hanover. We 
have the fame king, but not the fame legiflatures. 

The difpute between the two countries has already 
cod England many millions (lerling, which it has lo(r 
in its commerce, and America has in this refpe£l been 
a proportionable gainer. This commerce confifted 
principally of fuperfluities ; objects of luxury and ftifhi- 
on, which v/e tan well do without ; and the refolution 
we have formed of importing no more till our grievan- 
ces are redrefTed, has enabled many of our infant ma- 
nufacturers 



264 ESSAYS. 

to take root ; and it will not be eafy to make our peo- 
ple abandon them in future, even mould a connexion 
more cordial than ever fucceed the prefent troubles. — 
I have, indeed, no doubt that the parliament of Eng- 
land will finally abandon its prefent pretentions, and 
leave to us the peaceable enjoyment of our rights and 
privileges. 

B. FRANKLIN. 



A COMPARISON 
Of the Cqnduc* of the JxciExr Jejvs, and of tbt 

A'NTlFEDERALISrS in the UnII'ED SfAfES of 

America, 



A 



ZEALOUS advocate for the propofed Federal 
Conflitution, in a certain public affembly, faid, that 
" the repugnance of a great part of mankind to good 
" government was fuch, that he believed that if an 
4C angel from heaven was to bring down a confiituti- 
4; on formed there for our life, it would neverthelefs 
c! meet with violent oppofition." — He was reproved 
for the fuppdfed extravagance of the fentiment ; and 
lie did not juftify it. — Probably it might not have im- 
mediately occurred to him that the experiment had 
been tried, and that the event was recorded in the molt 
faithful of all hiftories, the Holy Bible ; otherwife he 
might, as it feems to me, have fupported his opinion by 
that unexceptionable authority. 

The Supreme Being had been pleafed to nourifli up 
a fingle family, by continued adls of his attentive Pro- 
vidence, 'till it became a great people : and having 
refcued them from bondage by many miracles perform- 
ed 



ESSAYS. 265 

eu by his fervant Mofes, he perfonally delivered to 
that chofen fervant, in prefence of the whole nation, 
a conftitution and code of laws for their obfervance ; 
accompanied and functioned withpromifes of great re- 
wards, and threats of fevere punifhments, as the con- 
fequence of their obedience or difobedience. 

This conftitution, though the Deity himfelf was to 
be at its head, (and it is therefore called by political 
writers a Theocracy) could not be carried into execu- 
tion but by means of his minifters ; Aaron and his 
ions were therefore commiflioned to be, with Mofes, 
the firfteftabli fried miniftry of the new government. 

One would have thought, that the appointment of 
men. who had diftinguifhed themfelves in procuring the 
liberty of the nation, and had hazarded their lives in 
openly oppofing the will of a powerful monarch who 
would have retained. that nation in ilavery, might have 
been an appointment acceptable to a grateful people ; 
and that a conftitution, framed for them by the Deity 
himfelf, might on that account have, been fecure of an 
univerfal welcome reception. Yet there were, in ever 
ry one of the thirteen tribes, fome discontented reftlefs 
fpirits, who were continually exciting them to reject 
the propofed new government, and this from various 
jnotives, 

Many ftill retained an affection for Egypt, the land 
of their nativity, and thefe, whenever tjjey felt any in- 
convenience or hardlhip, through the natural and un- 
avoidable effect of their change of fituation, exclaimed 
againil their leaders as the authors of their trouble ; 
and were not only for returning into Egypt, but for 
ftoning their deliverers.* Thole inclined to idolatry 
were difpleafed that their golden calf was deftroyed. 
Many of the chiefs thought the new conftitution might 
be injurious to their particular interefts, that the pro- 
fitable places would be engrossed by the families and, 

friends 



* Number s y ckaf* xiv. 
Y 2 



266 E S S A f S. 

friends of Moses and Aaron, and others equally well- 
born excluded.*— In Jofephus, and the Talmud, we 
learn fbme particulars, not fo fully narrated in the 
fcripture. We are there told, " that Korah was am* 
bitious of the prieflhood ; and offended that it was 
conferred on Aaron ; and this, as he faid, by the au- 
thority of Mofes only, without the consent of the peo- 
ple. He accufed Mofes of having, by various artifices, 
fraudulently obtained the government, and deprived the 
people of their liberties ; and of confpiring with Aaron 
to perpetuate the tyranny in their family. Thus, 
though Koran's real motive was the fupplanting of 
Aaron, he perfuaded the people that he meant only 
the public good ; and they, moved by his infinuations, 
began to cry out — " Let us maintain the common li- 
berty of our respective tribes ; we have freed ourfelves 
from the flavery impofed upon us by the Egyptians, 
and fhall we fuffer ourfelves to be made flaves by 
Mofes ? If we mud have a mafter, it were better to 
return to Pharaoh, who at leaft fed us with bread and 
onions, than to ferve this new tyrant, who by his ope- 
rations has brought us into danger of famine." Then 
they called in queftion the reality of his conference 
with God ; and objected to the privacy of the meet- 
ings, and the preventing any of the people from being 
prefent at the colloquies, or even approaching the 
place, as grounds of great fufpicion. They accufed 
Mofes alfo of peculation ; as embezzling part of the 
golden fpoons and the filver chargers, that the princes 
jhad offered at the dedication of the altar,f and the of- 
ferings of the gold of the common people,! as well as 

mod 



* Numbers, chap. xvi> ver. 3. u And they gathered 
themselves together against Moses and Aaron, and said 
unto them, Te take too much upon you, seeing all the 
congregations are holy, every one of them — wherefore 
ihen lift ye up yourselves above the congregation?" 
t Numbers, ch» vii* \ Exodus, ch* xxxv.ver. 22. 



ESSAYS. 267 

moft of the poll tax ;* and Aaron they accufed of 
pocketing much of the gold of which he pretended to 
have made a molten calf. Befides peculation, they 
charged Mofes with ambition ; to gratify which pafll- 
on> he had, they laid, deceived the people, by promif- 
ing to bring them to a land flowing with milk and ho- 
ney; inftead of doing which, he had brought them 
from fuch a land; and that he thought light of this 
mifchief, provided he could make himielf an absolute 
prince^ That, to fupport the new dignity with fplen- 
dor ia his family, the partial poll-tax already levied 
and given to Aaron| was to be followed by a general 
one|l, which would probably be augmented from time 
to time, if he were fufFered to go on promulgating new 
laws on pretence of new occasional revelations of the 
divine will, till their whole fortunes were devoured by 
that ariftocracy." 

Moles denied the charge of peculation ; and his ac~ 
cuiers were deftitute of proofs to fupport it ; though 
faciS) if real, are in the ir nature capable of proof. " I 
have not," faid he, (.with holy confidence in the pre- 
fence of God) " I have not taken from this people the 
value of an afs, nor done them any other injury." — 
But his enemies had made the charge, and with ibme 
fuccefs among the populace ; for no kind of accufatiou 
is fo readily made, or eafily believed, by knaves, as the 
accuution of knavery. 

In fine, no lefs than two hundred and fifty of the 
principal mem, " famous in the congregation, men of 



* Numbers^ cb. iii, and Exodus K cb. xxx. 

f Numbers, cb, xvi. ver. 13. i€ Is it a small thing 
that thou bast brought us up out of a land flowing with 
milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except 
tbou make thyself altogether a prince over us?" 

\ Numbers, cb* Hi* II Exodus, cb. xxx* 



268 ESSAYS. 

renown,"* heading and exciting the mob, working 
them up to fuch a pitch of phrenfy, that they called 
out, ilone 'em, flone 'em, and thereby fee lire our li- 
berties ; and let us choofe other captains that may lead 
us back into Egypt, in cafe we do not fucceed in re- 
ducing the Canaanites. 

On the whole, it appears that the Ifraelites were a 
people jealous of their newly acquired liberty, which 
jealoufy was in itfelf no fault ; but that when they fuf- 
fered it to be worked upon by artful men, pretending 
public good, with nothing really in view but private 
intereft, they were led to oppofe the eftablifhment of 
the new conflitution, whereby they brought upon them- 
felves much inconvenience and misfortune. It farther 
appears from the fame ineflimable hiftory, that when, 
after many ages, the con fti tut ion had become old and 
much abulcd, and an amendment of it was propofed, 
the populace, as they hadaccuied Moles of the ambi- 
tion of making himfelf a prince, and cried out, {lone 
him, (tone him ; fa, excited by their high-prieds and 
fcribes, they exclaimed againft the Meiliah, that he 
aimed at becoming king of the Jews, and cried, cru- 
cify him, crucify him. From all which we may gather, 
that popular oppofition to a public meafure, is no proof 
of its impropriety, even though the oppofition be exci- 
ted and headed by men of diftincYion. 

To conclude, I beg I may not be underftood to in- 
fer, that our general convention was divinely inipired 
when it formed the new federal conflitution, merely 
becaufe that conflitution has been unreafonably and 
vehemently oppofed : yet, I mnfl own, I have fo much 
faith in the general government of the world by Pro- 
vidence, that I can hardly conceive a tranfaction cf 
fuch momentous importance to the welfare of millions 
now exifling, and to exift in the poflerity of a great 
nation, (hould be fuffered to pafs without being in fome 
degree influenced, guided, and governed by that omni- 
potent, 



* NumlcrS) ckap. w 



ESSAYS. 269 

potent, omniprefent and beneficent Ruler, in whom 

all inferior fpirits live, and move, and have their be- 
ing. 



THE INTERNAL STATE OF AMERICA, 

Being a true Description of the Interest and Policy 
of that vast Continent. 

r r 

JL HERE is a tradition, that, in the planting of 
New-England, the fir ft fettlers>met with many diffi- 
culties and hardships ; as is generally the cafe when 
a civilized people attempt eftablifliing themfelves in a 
wiidernefs country. Being pioufly difpofed, they fought 
relief from Heaven, by laying their wants and dil ire fif- 
es before the Lord, in frequent let days of failing and 
prayer. Conftant meditation and difcturfe on thefe 
iubjects kept their minds gloomy and difecntented ; 
and, like the children of Ifrael, there were many difpo- 
fed to return to that Egypt which perfecution had in- 
duced them to abandon. At length, when it was pro- 
pofed in the aiTemblyto proclaim another fail, a far- 
mer of plain fenfe rcfe, and remarked, that the incon- 
veniences they fufFered, and concerning which they had 
fo often wearied Heaven with their complaints, were 
not lb great as they might have expected, and were 
c; mini Thing every day, as the colony Arengthened ; 
that the earth, began to reward their labour, and to 
furnifh liberally for their lubnfience ; that thefeasand 
rivers were found full of pfh, the air fweet, and the 
climate healthy ; and, above all, that they were there 
in the full enjoyment of liberty, civil and religious :, 
ore thought, that reflecting and converting 

on 



270 ESSAYS. 

on thefe fubje&s would be more comfortable, as tend- 
ing more to make them contented with their fituati- 
on ; and that it would be more becoming the grati- 
tude they owed to the Divine Being, if, tnftead of a 
fall, they mould proclaim a thankfgiving. His advice 
was taken, and from that day to this they have, in 
every year, obferved circumftances of public felicity 
fufficient to furnifh employment for a thankfgiving 
day, which is therefore conftantly ordered andreligiouf- 
ly obferved. 

I fee in the public newfpapers of different ftates 
frequent complaints of hard times, deadness of trade, 
scarcity of money , &c. Sec. It is not my intention to 
affert or maintain that thefe complaints are entirely 
without foundation. There can be no country or na- 
tion exiting, in which there will not be feme people fo 
circumftanced as to find it hard to gain a livelihood ; 
people who are not in the way of any profitable trade, 
and with whom money is fcarce, becaufe they have 
nothing to give in exchange for it; and it is always 
in the power of a fmall number to make a great cla- 
mour. But let us take a cool view of the general 
date of our affairs, and perhaps the profpeel will ap- 
pear lefs gloomy than has been imagined. 

The great bufinefs of the continent is agriculture. 
For one artifan, or merchant, I fuppofe, we have at 
lead one hundred farmers, and by far the greateft part 
cultivators of their own fertile lands, from whence 
many of them draw not only food neceiTary for their 
fubfiftence, but the materials of their clothing, fo as 
to need very few foreign fupplies ; while they have a 
furplus of productions to difpofe of, whereby wealth is 
gradually accumulated. Such has been the goodnefs 
of Divine Providence to thefe regions, and fo favour- 
able the climate, that, fmce the three or four years of 
hardfhip in the firfl fettlement of our fathers here, a 
famine or fcarcity has never been heard of amongft 
us ; on the contrary, though fome years may have 
been more, and others lefs plentiful, there has always 
been provifion enough for ourfelve$j and a quantity to 

fpare 



ESSAYS. 2.7I 

fpare for exportation. And although the crops oflaft 
year were generally good, never w^as the farmer bet- 
ter paid for the part he can fpare commerce, as the 
publifhed price currents abundantly teftify. The lands 
he poflefles are alfo continually rifing in value with 
the increafe of population ; and, on the whole, he is 
enabled to give fuch good wages to thole who work 
for him, that all who are acquainted with the old world 
mufl agree, that in no part of it are the labouring poor 
fo generally well fed, well clothed, well lodged, and 
well paid, as in the United States of America. 

If we enter the cities, we find that, fince the re- 
volution, the owners of houfes and lots of ground have 
had their intereft vaftly augmented in value ; rents 
have rifen to an aftonifhing height, and thence encou- 
ragement to increafe building, which gives employment 
to an abundance of workmen, as does alfo the increa- 
sed luxury and fplendour of living of the inhabitants 
thus made richer. Thefe workmen all demand and 
obtain much higher wages than any other part of the 
world could afford them, and are paid in ready money. 
T his rank of people therefore do not, or ought not, to 
complain of hard times; and they make a very con- 
fiderable part of the city inhabitants. 

At the diftance I live from our American fifheries, 
I cannot fpeak of them with any degree of certainty ; 
but I have not heard that the labour of the valuable 
race of men employed in them is worfe paid, or that 
they meet with lefs fuccefs, than before the revolution. 
The whale-men, indeed have been deprived of one 
market for their oil ; but another, I hear, is opening 
for them, which it is hoped may be equally advantage- 
ous ; and the demand is conftantly increafing for their 
fpermaceti candles, which there bear a much higher 
price than formerly. 

There remain the merchants and ihop-keepers. Of 
thefe, though they make but a famll part of the whole 
nation, the number is considerable, too great indeed for 
the bufinefs they are employed in ; for the confump- 
tion of goods in every country has its limits ; the fa- 
culties 



272 ESSAYS. 

culties of the people, that is, their ability to buy and 
pay, is equal only to a certain quantity of merchan- 
dife. If merchants calculate amifs on their propor- 
tion and import too much, they will of courfe find the 
fale dull for the overplus, and fome of them will fay 
that trade languifhes. They mould, and doubtlefs 
■will, grow wifer by experience, and import lefs. If 
too many artificers in town, and farmers from the 
country, flattering themfelves with the idea of lead- 
ing eaiier lives, turn [hop-keepers, the whole natural 
quantity of that bufmefs divided among them all may 
afford too fmall a (hare for each, and occafion com- 
plaints that trading is dead ; theie may alio fuppofe 
that it is owing to fcarcity of money, while in fa£t, it 
is not fo much from the fewnefs of buyers, as from 
theexceflive number of fellers, that the mifchief a; 
and, if every (hop-keeping farmer and mechanic would 
return to the ufe of his plough and working tools, there 
would remain of widows, and other women, ihop-keep- 
ers fufneient for the bufmefs, which might then af- 
ford them a comfortable maintenance. 

Whoever has travelled throug;h the various parts of 
Europe, and obierved how fmalljs the proportion of 
people in afrmence or eafy circumstances there, com- 
pared with thofe in poverty and mifery ; the few rich 
and haughty landlords, the multitude of poor, abject, 
rack-rented, tythe-paying tenants, and half-paid and 
half-ftarved ragged labourers ; and views here the hap- 
py mediocrity that lb generally prevails throughout 
thefe ftates, where the cultivator works fur himfelf, 
and fupports his family in decent plenty ; will, me- 
thinks, fee abundant reafon to blefs Divine Providence 
for the evident and great difference in our favour, and 
be convinced that no nation known to us enjoys a 
greater (bare of human felicity. 

It is true, that in fome of the ftates there are parties 
aid difcords ; but let us look back, and afk if we were 
ever without them ? Such will exift wherever there is 
liberty ; and perhaps they help to preierve it. By the. 
collifion of ditferent fentiraents, fparks of truth are 

ftruck 



ESSAYS. ^73 

flruck out, and political light is obtained. The dif- 
ferent factions, which at preient divide us, aim all at 
the public gcod ; the differences are only about the 
various modes of promoting it. Things, actions, 
meafures, and objects cf all kinds, prefent themielves 
to the minds of men in fuch a variety of lights, that 
it is not poffible we fhould all think alike at the fame 
time on every fubject, when hardly the fame man re- 
tains at all times the fame ideas of it. Parties are 
therefore the common lot of humanity ; and ours are 
by no means more mifchievous or lefs beneficial than 
thole of other countries, nations, and ages, enjoying 
in the fame degree the great bleffing of political li- 
berty. 

Some indeed among us are not fa much grieved for 
the preient (late of our affairs, as apprehenfive for the 
future. The growth of luxury alarms them, and they 
think we are from that alone in the high road to ruin. 
1 ney obferve, that no revenue is fufrlcient without 
oeconomy, and that the moft plentiful income of a 
whole people from the natural productions of their 
country may be diflipated in vain and needlefs expences, 
and poverty be introduced in the place of affluence.— 
This may be poffible. It however rarely happens : for 
there feems to be in every nation a greater proportion 
of induitry and frugality, which tend to enrich, than 
of idlenefs and prodigality, which occnfion poverty; 
fo that upon the whole there is a continual accumula- 
tion. Reflect what Spain, Gaul, Germany, and Bri- 
tain were in the time of the Romans, inhabited by 
people little richer than our lavages, and confider the 
wealth they at prefent poffefs, in numerous well-built 
cities, improved farms, rich moveables, magazines 
{locked with valuable manufactures, to fay nothing of 
plate, jewels, and coined money ; and all this, not- 
withstanding their bad, waiteful, plundering govern- 
ments, and their mad deflructive wars; and yet lux- 
ury and extravagant living has never fuffered much re- 
llraint in thole countries. Then confider the great 
proportion of indultrious frugal farmers. inhabiting the 

interior 
Z 



274 ESSAYS. 

interior parts of thefe American dates, and of whom 
the body of our nation confifts, and judge whether it is 
pofllble that the luxury of our fea-poi ts can be fuffici- 
ent toruinfuch a country— If the importation of fo- 
reign luxuries could ruin a people, we mould proba- 
bly have been ruined long ago ; for the Britifh nation 
claimed a right, and praclifed it, of importing among 
us not only the fuperfluities of their own production, 
but thole of every nation under heaven; we bought 
and confumed them, and yet we flourifhed and grew 
rich. At prelent our independent governments may 
do what we could not then do, difcourage by heavy 
duties, or prevent by heavy prohibitions, fuch impor- 
tations, and thereby grow richer; — If, indeed, which 
may admit of difpute, the deiire of adorning ourfelves 
with fine clothes, polTefling fine furniture, with ele- 
gant Loufes, he. is not, by ftrongly inciting to labovir 
and indufrry, the occafion of producing a greater value 
than is confumed in the gratification of that defire. 

The agriculture and filheries of |the United States 
are the great fources of our increafmg wealth. He 
that puts a feed into the earth is recompenfed, perhaps 
by receiving forty out of it ; and he who draws a fifli 
out of our water, draws up a piece of filver. 

Let us (and there is no doubt but we fhall) be at- 
tentive to thefe, and then the pow T er of rivals, with 
all their retraining and prohibiting adls, cannot much 
hurt us. We are fonsof the earth and feas, aud, like 
Antaeus in the fable, if in wreftling with a Hercules 
we now and then receive a fall, the touch of our pa- 
rents will communicate to us f re f h flrength and vigou:* 
to renew the conteft. 



ESSAYS. 275 



INFORMATION 

TO THOSE WHO WOULD 

REMOVE to AMERICA. 



M, 



fc ANY perfons in Europe having, directly or by 
letters, expreiTed to the writer of this, who is well ac- 
quainted with North America, their deli re of tranfport- 
ing and eflablifhing themfelves iji that country ; but 
who appear to him to have formed, through ignorance, 
miftaken ideas and expectations of what is to be ob- 
tained there ; he thinks it may be ufeful, and prevent 
inconvenient,- expenfive, and fruitiefs removals and 
voyages of improper perfons, if he gives fome clearer 
and truer notions of that part of the world, than have 
hitherto prevailed. 

He finds it imagined by numbers, that the inhabi- 
tants of North America are rich ; capable of reward- 
ing, and difpofed to reward, all forts of ingenuity; 
that they are at the fame time ignorant of all the fci- 
ences, and confequently that ftrangers polTefling talents 
in the belles-lettres, fine arts, &c. mud be highly ef- 
teemed, and fo well paid as to become eafily rich them- 
felves ; that there are alfo abundance of profitable of- 
fices to be difpofed of, which the natives are not qua- 
lified to fill ; and that having few perfons of family 
among them, ftrangers of birth muft be greatly re- 
fpeded, and of courfe eafily obtain the bell of thofe 
offices, which will make all their fortunes ; that the 
ernments, to encourage emigration from Europe, 
not only pay the expence of their perfonal tranfporta- 
tion, but give lands gratis to ftrangers, with negroes 

to 



2? 6 



ESSAYS. 



to work for them, utenfils of hufbandry, and flocks of 
cattle. Thcfe are all wild imaginations ; and thoic 
who go to America with expectations founded upon 
them, will furely find themfelves difappointed. 

The truth is, that though there are in that country 
few people fo miierable as the poor of Europe, there 
are alfo few that in Europe would be called rich: it is 
rather a general happy mediocrity that prevails. There 
are few great proprietors of the foil, and few tenants; 
mod people cultivate their own lands, or follow feme 
handicraft or merchandize ; very few rich enough to 
live icily upon their rents or incomes, or to pay the 
high prices given in Europe, for paintings ilatacs, 
architecture and the other works of art that are more 
uirlous, than nfeful. Hence the natural ger.iufes that 
have arilen in America, with inch talents, have uni- 
formly quitted that country for Europe, where they 
can be more fuitably rewarded. It is true that letters 
and mathematical knowledge are in efteem there, but 
they are at the fame time more common than is appre- 
hended ; there being already exiflingnine colleges, or 
fthiverfitieS) viz. four in New-England, and one in 
each of the provinces of New- York, New-Jerfey, 
Pennfylvaniaj Maryland, and Virginia, all furuifned 
with learned profeiTors ; befides a number of fmaller 
cademies : theie educate many of their youth in the 
^■<ts, and thofe fciences that qualify men for the 
. lilcns of divinity, law, or phyfic. Strangers in- 
are by no means excluded from exerciii 
profeflions ; and the quick rhcreafe of irii eve- 

here gives them a chance of employ, which they 
: in common with the natives. Gf civil cilices, or 
employments, there are few ; no fuperfiuous ones as in 
Europe ; and it is a rule eftablilhed in fome of the 
fiates, that no office ftiould be lb profitable as to make 
it dclirable. The 36th article of the conftitution of 
Pennfylvania runsexprefsly in theie words : " As eve- 
ry freeman, to preferve his independence, (if he has 
not a fufficient ellate) ought to have fome profeffion, 
calling, trade, or farm, whereby he may honeftly fub- 



1 



ESSAYS* 277 

fift, there can be no neceffity for, nor ufe in, eftabiifh- 
ing offices of profit ; the uilial detects of which are 
dependence and fervility, unbecoming freemen, in the 
poiTeiTors and expectants ; fa&ion, contention, cor- 
ruption, and diforder among* the people. Wherefore, 
wherever an office, through increafe of fees or other- 
wife, becomes fo profitable as to occafion many to ap- 
ply for it, the profits ought to be lefTened by the legis- 
lature." 

Thefe ideas prevailing more or lefs in all the United 
States, it cannot be worth any man's while, who has 
a means of living at home, to expatriate hhnfelf in 
hopes of obtaining a profitable civil office in America ; 
and as to military offices, they are at an end with \hc 
war, the armies being diibanded. Much lefs is it ad- 
vifeable for a perfofi to go thither^ who has no other 
quality to recommend him but his birth. In Europe, 
it has indeed its value; but it is a commodity that 
cannot be carried to a worie market than to that of 
America, where people do not enquire concerning a 
ftranger, What is be ? but JVbat can be do? If he 
has any ufeful art, he is welcome ; and if he exerciies 
it, and behaves well, he will be reipecled by all that 
know him; but a mere man of quality, who on that 
account wants to live upon the public by fome office 
or falary, will be defpifed and disregarded. The huf- 
bandraan is in honour there, and even the mechanic, 
becaufe their employments are ufeful. The people 
have a faying, that God Almighty is himfelf a mecha- 
nic, the greater! in the univerfe ; and he is reflected 
and admired more for the v«;: iety, ingenuity, and uti- 
lity of his handy works, than for the antiquity of his 
family. They are pleafed with the obiervation of a 
negro, and frequently mention it, that Boccarorra, 
(meaning the white man) make de black man workee,. 
make de hcrfe workee, make de ox workee, make 
ebery ting workee ; only de hog. He de hog, no 
workee ; he eat, he drink, he walk about, he go to 
deep when he pleafe, he libb like a gentleman. Ac- 
tc thefe opinions of the American:, one of 



&jS ESSAYS. 

them would think himfelf more obliged to a genealogift, 
who could prove for him that his anceftors and relati- 
ons for ten generations had been ploughmen, fmiths, 
carpenters, turners, weavers, tanners, or even fhoe- 
makers, and confequently that they were ufeful mem- 
bers of fociety ; than if he could only prove that they 
were gentlemen, doing nothing of value, but living 
idly on the labour of others, mere fruges confumere 
natif and other wife good for nothings till by their 
death their eftates, like the carcafe of the negro's gen- 
tleman hog, come to be cut up. 

With regard to encouragements for Grangers from 
government, they are really only what are derived 
from good laws and liberty. Strangers are welcome 
becaufe there is room enough for them all, and there- 
fore the old inhabitants are not jealous of them ; the 
laws protect them fufficiently, fo that they have no 
need of the patronage of great men ; and every one 
will enjoy fecurely the profits of his induftry. But if 
he does not bring a fortune with him, he mud work 
and be induitrious to live. One or two years refidence 
give him all the rights of a citizen ; but the govern- 
ment does not at prefent, whatever it may have done 
in former times, hire people to become fettlers, by 
paying their paffages, giving land, negroes, utenfils, 
flock, or any other kind of emolument whatfoever— 
In Ihort, America is the land of labour, and by no 
means what the Englifh call Lubberland, and the French 
Pays cle Cocagne, where the ftreets are faid to be paved 
with half-peck loaves, the houfes tiled with pancakes, 
and where the fowls fly about ready roafted, crying, 
Come eat me ! 

Who then are the kind of perfons to whom an 
emigration to America would be advantageous ? And 
what are the advantages they may reasonably ex- 
pect? 

Land 



* - - - - bom 

Merely to eat up the corn. Watts* 



ESSAYS. 279 

Land being cheap in that country from the vafl 
forefts frill void of inhabitants, and not likely to be 
occupied in an age to come, infomuch that the pro- 
perty of an hundred acres of fertile foil full of wood 
may be obtained near the frontiers, in many places, 
for eight or ten guineas, hearty young labouring men, 
who underftand the hufbandry of com and cattle, which 
is nearly the fame in that country as in Europe, may 
eafily eftablilh themfelves there, A little money laved 
of the good wages they receive there while they work 
for others, enables them to buy the laud and begin 
their plantation, in which they are aflifted by the good 
will of their neighbours, and fome credit. Multitudes 
of poor people from England, Ireland, Scotland, and 
Germany, have by this means in a few years become 
wealthy farmers, who in their own countries, where 
all the lands are fully occupied and the wages of la- 
bour low, could never have emerged from the mean 
condition wherein they were born. 

From the falubrity of the air, the heahhinefs of the 
climate, the plenty of good proviftons, and the encou- 
ragement to early marriages, by the certainty of fub- 
fiftence in cultivating the earth, the increafe of inhabi- 
tants by natural generation is very rapid in America, 
and becomes ftill more fo by the acceffion of Grangers; 
hence there is a continual' demand for more artifans 
of all the necelfary and ufeful kinds, to fupply thofe 
cultivators of the earth with houfes, and with furni- 
ture and n ten (ils of the groffer forts, which cannot £0 well 
be brought from Europe. Tolerable good workmen 
in any of thofe mechanic arts, are fure to find employ, 
and to be well paid for their work, there being no re- 
ltraints preventing ftrangers from exercinng any art 
they underftand, nor any permifBon necefTary. If they 
are poor, they begin firft as fervants or journeymen ; 
and if they are fober, induftrious, and frugal, they 
foon become matters, eftablilh themfelves in bufinefs, 
marry, raife families; and become refpe&able citi- 
zens. 

Alio- 



2&Q ESSAYS. 

Alio, perfons of moderate fortunes and capitals, who 
having a number of children to provide for, are de- 
ilrous of bringing them up to inauftry, and to fecure 
eftates for their pofterity, have opportunities of doing 
it in America, which Europe does not afford. There 
they may be taught and practife profitable mechanic 
arts without incurring difgrace on that account ; but 
on the contrary acquiring refpecl by fuch abilities. 
There irnall capitals Said out in lands, which daily be- 
come more valuable by the increafe of people, afford a 
iclid proipect of ample fortunes thereafter for thofe 
children. The writer of this has known feveral in- 
Uances of large traits of land, bought on what was 
then the frontier of Pennsylvania, for ten pounds per 
liundred acres, which, after twenty years, when the 
iittleinents had been extended far beyond them, fold 
readily, without any improvement made upon them, 
for three pounds per acre. The acre in America is 
the fame with the Englifh acre, or the acre of Nor- 
mandy. 

Thofe who defire to underftand the (late of govern- 
ment in America, would do w T ell to read the conititu- 
tions of the feveral dates, and the articles of confede- 
ration that bind the whole together for general purpo- 
Ies, under the direction of one alTembiy, called the 
Gongrefs. Thefe conllitutions have been printed, by 
order of Congrefs, in America ; two editions of them 
have alfo been printed in London ; and a good tranila- 
tion of them into French, has lately been publilhed at 
Paris. 

Several of the princes of Europe having of late, 
from an opinion of advantage to arife by producing 
all commodities and manufacrures within their own 
dominions, lb as to diminish or render uielefs their im- 
portations, have endeavoured to entice workmen from 
other countries, by high falaries, privileges, &c% 
Many perfons pretending to be ikilledin various great 
manufactures, imagining that America, mult be in 
■want of them, and that the Congrefs would probably, 
be difpefed to imitate the princes above mentioned, 

have 



ESSAYS. 



28l 



have propofed to go over, on condition of having their 
paffages paid, lands given, falaries appointed, exclu- 
five privileges for terms of years, &:c. Such perfons, 
on reading the articles of confederation, will find that 
the Congrefs have no power committed to them, or 
money put into their hands for fuch purpofes ; and 
that if any fuch encouragement is given, it muft be 
by the government of ibrne particular Mate. This 
however, has rarely been done in America; and when 
it has been done, it has rarely fucceeded fo as to efta- 
blifh a manufacture, which the country wag not yet fo 
ripe for as to encourage private perfons to fet it up, 
labour being generally too dc2r there, and hands dnli- 
cult to be kept together, every one defiling to be a 
matter, and the cheapnefs of land inclining many to 
leave trades for agriculture. Some indeed have met 
with fuccefs, arid are carried on to advantage ; but 
they are generally fuch as require only a few hands, or 
wherein great part of the work is performed by ma- 
chines. Goods that are bulky, and of fo fmall value 
as not well to bear the expence of freight, may often 
be made cheaper in that country than they can be 
imported ; and the manufacture cf fuch goods will be 
profitable wherever there is a fufiicrent demand. The 
farmers in America produce, indeed) a good deal of 
wool and flax ; ana none is exported, it is all worked 
up ; but it is in the way of domeftic manufacture, for 
the ufe of the family. The buying up quantities of 
wool and flax, with the defigu to employ fpinner% 
weavers, Sec. and form gre at enabli(brnents r producing 
quantities of linen and woolen goods for fale, has been 
(eveial times attempted in different provinces; but 
thole projects have generally failed, goods of equal 
value being imported cheaper. And when the go- 
vernments have been folicited to fupport fuch fchemes 
by encouragements, in money, or by inrpofing duties 
on importation of fuch goods, it has been generally 
rcfufed, on this principle, that if the country is ripe 
for the manufacture, it may be carried on by private 
perfons to advantage ; and if not, it is a folly to think 

of 



S32 £ S S A T S. 

of forcing nature. Great eftablifhments of manufac- 
ture, require great numbers of poor to do the work 
for fmall wages ; thcfe poor are to be found in Eu- 
rope, but will not be found in America, till the lands 
are all taken up and cultivated, and the excefs of peo- 
ple who cannot get land want employment. The 
manufacture of filk, they fay, is natural in France, as 
that of cloth in England, becaufe each country pro- 
duces in plenty the firft material: but if England will 
have a manufacture pf filk as well as that of cloth, 
and France of cloth as well as that of filk, thefe 
unnatural operations muft be fupported by mutual pro- 
hibitions, or high duties on the importation of each 
other's goods ; by which means the workmen are ena- 
bled to tax the home confumer by greater prices, 
while the higher wages they receive makes them nei- 
ther happier nor richer, fince they only drink more and 
work lefs. Therefore the governments of America do 
nothing to encourage luch projects. The people, by 
tliis means, are not impofed on, either by the mer- 
chant or mechanic : if the merchant demands too much 
profit on imported (hoes, they buy of the fhoemaker; 
and if he alts too high a price, they take them of the 
merchant ; thus the two profeflions are checks on each 
other. The fhoemaker, however, has, on the whole, 
a confiderable profit: upon his labour in America, be- 
yond what he had in Europe, as he can add to his 
price a fum nearly equal to all the expences of freighf and 
commiiTion, rifque or infurance, Sec. neceffarily charg- 
ed by the merchant. And it is the fame with every 
other mechanic art. Hence it is, that artifans gene- 
rally live better and more eafily in America than in 
Europe; and fuch as are good ceconomifts make a 
comfortable provifion for age, and for their children. 
Such may, therefore, remove with advantage to Ame- 
rica. 

In the old long- fettled countries of Europe, all arts, 
trades, profeflions, farms, &x. are fo full, that it is 
difficult for a poor man who has children to phce 
them where they may gain, or learn to gain, a decent 
livelihood. Hie artifans, who fear creating future 

rivals 



E . o s a v s. 283 

rivals in bufinefs, refufe to take apprentices, but upon 
conditions of money, maintenance, or the like, which 
the parents sire unable to comply with. Hence the 
youth are dragged up in ignorance of every gainful 
art, and obliged to become foldiers, or fervantif, or 
thieves, for a iiibfiftence. In America, the rapid in- 
creafe of inhabitants takes away that fear of rivalfhip, 
and artifans willingly receive apprentices from the 
hope of profit by their labour, daring the remainder of 
the time (lipulated, after they (hall be inftructed. 
Hence it is ealy for poor families to get their chil- 
dren inftructed ; fpr the artifans are fa defirous of ap- 
prentices, that many of them will even give money to 
the parents, to have boys from ten to fifteen years of 
age bound apprentices to them, till the age of twenty- 
one ; and many poor parents have, by that means, on 
their arrival in the country, raifed money enough to 
buy land fufficient to eftablifh themfelves, and to fub- 
fift the reft of their family by agriculture. 

Thefe contracts of apprentices are made befjre a 
magiftrate, who regulates the agreement according to 
reafon and juftice; and having in yiew the formation 
of a future ufeful citizen, obliges the matter to engage 
by a written indenture, not only that, during the time 
of fervice ftipulated., the apprentice ihall be duly pro- 
vided with meat, drink, apparel, wafhing, and lodging, 
and at its expiration with a complete new fuit of 
clothes, but alio that he (li all be taught to read, write, 
and call: accounts ; and that he Hull be well inftructed 
in the art or profeiiion of his matter, or fome other, by 
which he may afterwards gain a livelihood, and be able 
in his turn to raife a family. A copy of this inden- 
ture is given to the apprentice or his friend*, and the 
magiftrate keeps a record of it, to which rec.urfe may 
be had, in cafe of failure by the mafter in any point 
of performance. This defire among the matters to 
have more hands employed in working for them, induces 
them to pay the paiYages of young peribns, of both 
iexes, who, on their arrival, agree to ferve them one, 
two, three, or ft ur years : thefe who have already learn- 



284 ESSAYS. 

ed a trade, agreeing for a fhorter term, in proportion 
to their ikill, and the confequent immediate value of 
their fervice ; and thofe who have none, agreeing for 
a longer term, in confideration of being taught an art 
their poverty would not permit them to acquire in their 
own country. 

The almoft general mediocrity of fortune that pre- 
vails in America, obliging its people to follow feme 
buGnefs for fubfiftence, thofe vices that rife isfually' 
from idJenefs, are in a great meafure prevented. In- 
tfuftry and constant employment are great prefervatives 
of the morals and virtue of a nation. Hence bad 
examples to youth are more rare in America, winch 
mull, be a comfortable confideration t~> parents. To 
this may be truly added, that ferious religion, under its 
various denominations, is not only tolerated, but re- 
fpecled and practifed. Atheifm is unknown there; 
infidelity rare and fecret ; fo that perfons may live to 
a great age in that country without having their piety 
ihocked by meeting either with an atheilt or an infidel. 
And the Divine Being teems to have manifefted his 
Approbation of the mutual" forbearance and kindners 
with which the different fects treat each other, by the 
remarkable profperity with which he has been pleaded 
to favour the whole country. 



FINAL SPEECH 

DR. FRANKLIN, 

far <thr LATE FEDERAL CONVENTION* 



1 



MR. PRESIDENT, 

CONFESS that I do not entirely approve of this 
conftitution at preient : but, Sir, I am not lure I lhall 



* Our reasons for ascribing this speech to Dr* 
Franklin, are internal evidence^ and its having appear- 
ed nvitb bis ?;ame, during bis life time, uncontradicted) 

(n an American periodical publication* 



ESSAYS. 285 

never approve it ; for having lived long, I have expe- 
rienced many inftauces of being obliged by better in- 
formation, or further confideration, to change opinions 
even on important fubjects, which I once thought 
right, but found to be otherwiie. It is, therefore, 
that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my 
own judgment, and pay more refpect to the judgment 
of otners. Moil men, indeed, as well as moll fects of 
religion, think themielves in pofTeffion of all truth, and 
that whenever others differ from them, it is fo far 
error. Steel, a proteftant, in a dedication, tells the 
pope, that u the only difference between our two church- 
es, in their opinions of the certainty of their doctrines, 
is, the Romifh church is infallible, and the church of 
England never in the wrong." But, though many- 
private perfons think almoft as highly of their own in- 
fallibility as of that of their feci, few exprefs it fo na- 
turally as a certain French lady, who, in a little dif- 
pute with her filter, faid, I don't know how it happens, 
lifter, but I meet with nobody but myfelf that is al- 
ways in the right. // n'y a que mot qui a toujours 
raison. In thel'e fentiments, Sir, I agree to this con- 
flitution, with all its faults, if they are fuch ; becaufc 
I think a general government neceflary for us, and 
there is no form of government, but what may be a 
bleffing, if well adminiftered ; and I believe farther, 
that this is likely to be well adminiflered for a courie 
of years, and can only end in defpotifm, as other forms 
have done before it, when the people fhall become fo 
corrupted as to need defpotic government, being inca- 
pable of any other. I doubt too, whether any other 
convention we can obtain, may be able to make a bet- 
ter conftitutioii. For when you aiTemble a number of 
men, to have the advantage of their joint wifdom, you 
afiemble with thofe men, all their prejudices, their paf- 
fions, their errors of opinion, their local interefts, and 
their felfifli views. From fuch an affembly can a per- 
fect production be expected ? It therefore aflonifhes 
me, Sir, to find this fyftem approaching fo near to per- 
fection as it does ; and I think it will ailonifh our 

enemies, 
Aa 



286 ESSAYS, 

enemies, who are waiting with confidence, to hear that 
our councils are confounded, like thofe of the builders 
of Babylon, and that our ftates are on the point of 
feparation, only to meet hereafter for the purpofe of 
cutting each other's throats. 

Thus I confent, Sir, to this conftitution, becaufe I 
expedt no better, and becaufe I am not fure that this 
is not the beft. The opinions I have had of its er- 
rors, I iacrifice to the public good. I have never 
whifpered a iyilable of them abroad. Within thefe 
walls they were born ; and here they fhall die. If 
every one of us,in returning to our condiments, were 
to report the objections he has had to it, and endeavour 
to gain partifans in fupportof them, we might prevent 
its being generally received, and thereby lofe all the 
falutary effects and great advantages refulting natural- 
ly in our favour among foreign nations, as well as 
among ourielves, from our real and apparent unanimity. 
Much of the ftrength or efficiency of any govern- 
ment, in procuring and fecuring happineis to the peo- 
ple, depends on opinion ; on the general opinion of 
the goodnefs of that government, as well as of the 
wifdom and integrity of its governors* 

I hope, therefore, that for our own fakes as a part 
of the people, and for the fake of our potter ity, we (ball 
act heartily and unanimoufly in recommending this 
conftitution, wherever our influence may extend, and 
turn our future thoughts and endeavours to the means 
©f having it well adminiftered. 

On the whole, Sir, I cannot help expreffing a wifb, 
that every member of the convention, who may ill 
have objections, would with me on this occalion, doubt 
a little of his own infallibility, and, to make manifeft 
our unanimity, put his name to this inftrument. 

[The motion was then made for adding the laft for- 
mula, viz. 

Done in Convention, by the unanimous confent, &c. 
which was agreed to, and added accordingly.] 



E S S A Y S. 287 



SKETCH of an ENGLISH SCHOOL. 

For the Consideration of the Trustees of the Philadel- 
phia Academy** 

JlT is expected that every fcholar to be admitted in- 
to this Ichool, be at lead able to pronounce and di- 
vide the fyllables in reading, and to write a legible 
hand. None to be received that are under years 

of age. 

FIRST, OR LOWER CLASS. 

Let the fir ft clais learn the Engtifh Grammar rules, 
and at the fame time let particular care lie taken to 
improve them in orthography. Perhaps the latter is 
beft done by pairing the fcholars ; two of thofe near- 
eft equal in their fpelling to be put together. Let 
thefe ft rive for victory ; each propounding ten words 
every day to the other to be fpelled. He that fpells 
truly moft of the other's words, is victor for that day ; 
he that is victor moft days in a month, to obtain a 
prize, a pretty neat book of fome kind, ufeful in their 
future ftudies. This method fixes the attention of 
children extremely to the orthography of words, and 
makes them good ipellers very early. It is a fhame 
for a man to be fo ignorant of this little art, in his 
own language, as to be perpetually confounding words 
of like found and different fignifications ; the con- 
fcioufnefs of which defect makes fome men, otherwife 
of good learning and underftanding, averfe to writing 
even a common letter. 

Let the pieces read by the Tcholars in this clafs be 
fliort ; fuch as Croxal's fables, and little ftories. In 
giving the leffon, let it be read to them ; let the mean- 

This piece did not come to hand till the volume had 
been some time at the press* This was the case also 
with several other papers* and must be our apology for 
any defect that may appear in the arrangement* 



^88 ESSAYS. 

ing of the difficult words in it be explained to them ; 
and let them con over by themfelves before they are 
called to read to the matter or ufher; who is to take 
particular care that they do not read too faft, and that 
they duly obferve the (lops and paufes. A vocabula- 
ry of the moit ufual difficult words might be formed 
for their ufe, with explanations ; and they might daily 
get a few of thole words and explanations by heart, 
which would a little exercife their memories ; or at 
lea ft they might write a number of them in a final! 
book for the purpofe, which would help to fix the mean- 
ing of thofe words in their minds, and at the fame 
time fumifh every one with a little dictionary for his 
future ufe. 

THE SECOND CLASS 

To be taught reading with attention, and with pro- 
per modulations of the voice; according to the fenti- 
ment and fubject. 

Some fhort pieces, not exceeding the length of a 
Spectator, to he given this clafs for leflbns (and fome 
of the eafier Spectators would be very fuitable for 
the purpofe). 1 hefe leflbns might be given every 
night as tafks ; the fcholars to ftudy them againft the 
morning. Let it then be required of them to give an 
account, firftof the parts of fpeech, and conftrucYion of 
one or two fentences. This will oblige them fre- 
quently to recur to their grammar, and fix its princi- 
pal rules in their memory. Next, of the intention of 
the writer, or the fcope of the piece, the meaning of 
each fentence, and of every uncommon word. This 
would early acquaint them with the meaning and 
force of words, and give them that mofl neceffary habit 
of reading with attention. 

The mailer then to read the piece with the proper 
modulations of voice, due emphafis, and fuitable acti- 
on, where aclion is required, and put the youth on 
imitating his manner. 

Where the author has ufed an expreflion not the 
befr, let it be pointed out; and let his beauties be 
particularly remarked to the youth. 

Let the leflbns for reading be varied, that the youth 
may be made acquainted with good flyles of all kinds 
in profe and verfe, and the proper manner of reading 



ESSAYS. 289 

each kind — fometimcs a well-told ftory, a piece of a 
iermon, a general's fpeech to his foldiers, a fpeech in a 
tragedy, fame part of a comedy, an ode, a fatire, a let- 
ter, blank verfe, Hudibraftic, heroic, See. But let 
iuch leffons be chofen for reading, as contain fome ufe- 
ful inftruclion, whereby the underftanding or morals 
of the youth may at the fame time be improved. 

It is required that they fhould filft ftudy and un- 
derftand die leffons, before they are put upon reading 
them properly ; to which end each boy fhould have 
an Englilh dictionary, to help him over difficulties. 
When our boys read Englifh to us, we are apt to ima- 
gine they underftand what they read,, becaufe we do, 
and becaufe it is their mother tongue. But they of- 
ten read, as parrots fpeak, knowing little or nothing 
of the meaning. And it is impoffible a reader fhould 
give the due modulation to his voice, and pronounce 
properly, unlefs his undemanding- goes before his 
tongue, and makes him mafterof the fentiment. Ac- 
cuftoming boys to read aloud what they do not firft: 
underftand, is the caufe of thofe even . fct tones fo 
common among readers, which when they have once 
got a habit of uiing, they find fo difficult to correct ,• 
by which means, among fifty readers we fcarxely find 
a good one. For want of good readers pieces pub- 
lilhed with a view to influence the minds -of men, for 
their own or the public benefit, lofe half their force. 
Were there but one good reader in a neighbourhood^ 
a public orator might be heard throughout a nation . 
with the fame advantages, and have the fame effect 
upon his audience, as if. they flood within the reach, of 
his voice. 

THE THIRD CLASS' 

To be taught fpeaking properly and gracefully ; 
which is near a-kin to good reading, and naturally fol- 
lows it in the ftudies of youth. Let the fcholars of 
this clafs begin with learning the elements of rhetoric 
from fome ihort fyftem, fo as to be able to give an. 
account of the mod ufeful tropes and figures. . Let «ll 
their bad habits of fpeaking, all offences againft good 
grammar, all . corrupt or foreign accents, and all im- 
proper phrafes, be pointed out to them. Short ipeech- 
es from the Romun or other hiftory, or from the par, 
A a 2 



290 ESSAYS. 

liamentary debates, might be got by heart, and deli- 
vered with the proper aclion, Sec, Speeches and fcenes 
in our bed tragedies and comedies (avoiding things 
that could injure the morals of youth) might likewife 
be got by rote, and the boys exercifed in delivering or 
acting them : great care being taken to form their 
manner after the trueft models. 

For their farther improvement, and a little to yary 
their ftudies, let them now begin to read hiftory, after 
having got by heart a ihort table of the principal 
epochas in chronology. They may begin with Rollin's 
ancient and Roman hiftories, and proceed at proper 
hours, as they go through the fubfequent clafTes, with 
the belt hiflories of our own nation and colonies. Let 
emulation be excited among the boys, by giving, week- 
ly, little prizes, or other fmall encouragements, to 
thofe who are able to give the beft account of what 
ihey have read, as to times, places, names of perfons, 
Sec. This will make them read with attention, and 
imprint the hiftory well in their memories. In re- 
marking on the hiftory, the matter will have fine oppor- 
tunities of inftilling inftrudion of various kinds, and 
improving the morals, as well as the underftandings, 
of youth. 

The natural and mechanic hiftory, contained in the 
Spectacle de la Nature, might alio be begun in this 
clafs, and continued through the fubfequent clafles, 
by other books of the fame kind ; for, next to the 
knowledge of duty, this kind of knowledge is certain- 
ly the moil ufeful, as well as the moft entertaining. — 
The merchant may thereby be enabled better to un- 
derhand many commodities in trade ; the handicraft- 
man to improve his bufinefs by new inftruments, mix- 
tures and materials ; and frequently hints are given 
for new manufactures or new methods of improving 
land, that may be let on foot greatly to the advantage 
of the country. 

THE FOURTH CLASS 

To be taught compofition. Writing one's own 
language well, is the next, neeeffary accomplishment 
after good fpeaking. Jt is the writing-maftei's bufi- 
nefs to take care that the boys make fair characters, 
and place them flraight and even in the lines : but to 



ESSAYS. 29I 

form their ttyle, and even to take care that the ttops 
and capitals are properly difpofed, is the part of the 
Englifn matter. The boys fhould be put on writing 
letters to each otberother on anv common occurrences, 
and on various fubjecls, imaginary bufinefs, he. con- 
taining little ftories, accounts of their late reading*, 
what parts of authors pleafe them, and why ; letters 
of congratulation, of compliment, ofrequett, of thanks, 
of recommendation, of admonition, of confolation, ex- 
polluiation, excufe, Sec. In thefe they fliould be 
taught to exprefs themfelves clearly, cortcifely and na- 
turally, without afYe&ed words or high-flown phrafes. 
All their letters to pais through the mailer's hand, 
who is to point out the faults, advife the corrections, 
and commend what he finds right. Some of the heft let- 
ters pubiifhed in our own language, as Sir W. Temple's, 
thofe of Pope and his friends, and fome others, might 
be let before the youth as models, their beauties point- 
ed out and explained by the mailer, the letters them- 
felves tranferibed by the fcholar. 

Dr. Johnlbn's Et bices Element a, or Firft Principles 
of Morality, may now be read by the fcholars, and 
explained by the matter, to lay a folid foundation of 
virtue and piety in their minds. And as this clais 
continues the reading ofhiftory, let them now, at pro- 
per hours, receive fome farther inftrudlion in chrono- 
logy, and in that part of geography (from the mathe- 
matical mailer) which is needfary to underttand the 
maps and globes. They fhould alio be acquainted 
with the modern names of the places they find men- 
tioned in ancient writers. The exercifes of good 
reading, and proper fpeaking Rill continued at fuitable 
times. 

FIFTH CLASS. 

To improve the youth in compofition, they may 
now, befides continuing to write letters, begin to write 
little ettays in profe, and fometimes in verfe ; not to 
make -them poets, but for this reaibn, that nothing 
acquaints a lad fo fpeedily with variety of expreffion, 
as the r.eceflity of finding fuch words and phrafes as will 
fuit the meafure, found and rhjme of verfe, and at the 
fame time well exprefs the fentiment. Thefe effays 
fliould all pais under the matter's eye, who y0 point 



292 ESSAYS. 

out their faults, and put the writer on correcting them. 
Where the judgment is not ripe enough for forming 
new effays, let the fentiments of a Spectator be given, 
and required to be clothed in the fcholar's own words ; 
or the circumftance of ibme good ftory; the fcholarto 
find expreftion. Let them be put fometimes on abridg- 
ing a paragraph of a difFufe author : fometimes on di- 
lating or amplifying what is wrote more clofely. And 
now let Dr. Johnfon's Noetica^ or Firft Principles of 
Human Knowledge, containing a logic, or art of rea- 
foning, &c. be read by the youth, and the difficulties 
that may occur to them be explained by the mailer. 
The reading of hiilory, and the exercifes of good read* 
ing and juil fpeaking, ftill continued. 
SIXTH class. 

In this clafs, befides continuing the ftudies of the 
preceding in hiftory, rhetoric, logic, moral and natii-* 
ral philoibphy, the beft Englifh authors may be read 
and explained ; as Tillotfon, Milton, Locke, Addilbn, 
Tope, Swift, the higher papers in the Spectator and 
Guardian, the beft translations of Homer, Virgil and 
Horace, of Telemachus, Travels of Cyrus, Sec, 

Once a year let there be public exercifes in the hall; 
the truftees and citizens prefent. Then let fine gilt 
books be given as prizes to fuch boys as diftinguiih 
themfelves, and excel the others in any branch of 
learning, making three degrees of companion : giving 
the beft prize to him that performs beft ; a lefs valua- 
ble one to him that comes up next to the beft ; and 
another to the third. Commendations, encouragement, 
and advice to the reft; keeping up their hopes, that, 
by induftry, they may excel another time. The names 
of thole that obtain the prize, to be yearly printed in 
a lift. 

The hours of each day are to be divided and difpo- 
fed in fuch a manner as ihatfome claifes may be with 
the writing-in after improving their hands ; others with 
the mathematical-mailer, learning arithmetic, accounts, 
geography* ufe of the globes, drawing, mechanics, 
&x. while the reft are in the Englifh fchool, under the 
Englifh matter's care. 

Thus inftrucled, youth will come out of this fchool 
fitted for learning any buiineis, calling, or profe£. 



EXAMINATION, &C. 293 

except fuch wherein languages are required ; and 
though unacquainted with any ancient or foreign 
tongue, they will be matters of their Own, which 'is of 
more immediate and general ufe ; and withal will have 
attained many other valuable accomplifhments : the 
time ufually fpent in acquiring thofe languages, often 
without fuccefs, being here employed in laying fuch a 
foundation of knowledge and ability, as, properly im- 
proved, may qualify them to pafs through and exe- 
cute the feveral offices of civil life, with advantage and 
reputation to themfelves and country. 



The EXAMINATION of DR. BENJA- 
MIN FRANKLIN, before an August 
Assembly, relating to the Repeal of the 
STAMP-ACT, &a 

^ VV HAT is your name, and place of abode ? 

A. Franklin, of Philadelphia. 

Q^ Do the Americans pay any confiderable taxes 
among t h e m fe I ves \ 

A. Certainly many, and very heavy taxes. 

Q^ What are the prefent taxes in Pennfylvania, 
laid by the laws of the Colony ? 

A. There are taxes on all eflates real and perfonal, 
a poll tax, a tax on all offices, profeffions, trades and 
bufmeffes, according to their profits ; an excite on all 
wine, rum, and other ipirits ; and a duty often pounds 
per head on all Negroes imported, with fome other 
duties. 

Q^ For what purpofes are thofe taxes laid ? 

A. For the fupport of the civil and military efta- 
bli laments of the country, and to difcharge the heavy 
debt contracted in the lafl war. 

O. How long are thofe taxes to continue? 

A. Thofe for difcharging the debt are to continue 
till 1772, and longer, if the debt mould not then be 
ail discharged. The others muft always continue. 



294 EXAMINATION OF 

Q^ Was it not expected that the debt would have 
been iboner discharged ? 

A. It was, when the peace was made witbFrance 
and Spain — But a fredi war breaking out with the 
Indians, a frelh load of debt was incurred, and the 
taxes, of courfe, continued longer by a new law, 

Q^ Are not all the people very able to pay thofe 
taxes ? 

A. No, The frontier counties, all along* the con- 
tinent, having been frequently ravaged by the enemy, 
and greatly impoverifhed, are able to pay very little 
tax. And therefore, in conlideration of their dff- 
trefies, our late tax laws do exprefsly favour thofe 
counties, excuftng the fufFerers ; and I fuppofe the 
fame is done in other governments. 

(^ Are not you concerned in the management of 
the Poll-Office in America ? 

A.,. Yes. I am deputy poft-mafter general of North 
America. 

O^ Don't you think the diftribution of ftamps, by 
poft, to all the inhabitants very practicable, if there 
was no oppofition ? 

A. The pods only go along the fea ccafts ;• they do- 
not, except in a few inflances, go back into the coun- 
try ; and if they did, lending for (tamps by poft would 
occafton an expence of poftage, amounting in many 
cafes, to much more than that of the ftamps themfelves. 

Q^ Are you acquainted with Newfoundland? 

A. I never was there. 

Q^ Do you know whether there are any poft roads 
on that idand? 

A. I have heard that there are no roads at all; but 
that the communication between one fettlement and 
another is by fea only. 

Q^ Can you difperfe the (tamps by poft in Canada ? 

A. There is only a poft between Montreal and 
Quebec. The inhabitants live fofcattered and remote 
from each other in that vaft country, that pofts can- 
not be fupported among them, and therefore they can- 
not get (lamps per poft. The Englifh Colonies too, 
along the frontiers, are very thinly fettled. 

O^From the thinnefs of the back fettlements, would 
not the ftamp-adfc be extremely inconvenient to the 
inhabitants, if executed ? 



DR. FRANKLIN. 295 

A. To be fare it would; as many of the inhabitants 
could not get (lamps when they had occafion for them, 
without taking long journeys, and foending perhaps 
three or four pounds, that the Grown might get fix- 
pence. 

Q^ Are not the colonies, from their circumftances, 
very able to pay the (lamp-duty ? 

A. In my opinion, there is not gold and filver e- 
nough in the colonies to pay the (lamp duty for one 
year. 

Q. Don't you know that the money arifing from the 
(lamps was all to be laid out in America ? 

A, I know it is appropriated by the ac~l to the A- 
merican fervice ; but it will be fpent in the conquered 
colonies, where the foldiers are, not in the colonies 
that pay it. 

Q. Is there not a balance of trade due from the 
^colonies where the troops are potted, that will bring- 
back the money to the old colonies ? 

A. I think not. I believe very little would come 
back. I know of no trade likely to bring it back. I 
think it would come from the colonies where it was 
fent directly to England; for I have always obferved, 
that in every colony the more plenty the means of remit- 
tance to England, the more goods are lent for, and the 
more trade with England carried on. 

Q. What number of white inhabitants do you think 
there are in Pennfylvania ? 

A. I fuppofe there may be about 160,000. 

Q. What number of them are Quakers? 

A. Perhaps a third. 

Q. What numberof Germans ? 

A. Perhaps another third; but I cannot (peak with 
certainty. 

Q. Have any numbers of the Germans feen fervice, 
as foldiers in Europe? 

A. Yes, — many of them, both in Europe and Ame- 
rica. 

Q^ Are they as much diffatisfied with the (lamp du- 
ty as the Engl i fh ? 

A. Yes, and more ; and with reafon, as their framps 
are, in many cafes, to be double. 

Q^ How many white men do you fuppofe there aic 
in North America ? 



296 EXAMINATION OF 

A. About 300,000, from fixteen to fixty years of 
age. 

Q. What may be the amount of one year's imports 
■into Pennsylvania from Britain ? 

A. 1 have been informed that our merchants com- 
pute the imports from Britain to be above 500,000 
pounds. 

Q^ What may be the amount of the produce of 
your province exported to Britain ? 

A. It mud be fmall, as we produce little that is 
wanted in Britain. 1 iuppofe it cannot exceed 40,000 
pounds. 

Q. How then do you pay the balance? 

A. The balance is paid by our produce carried to 
the Weft- Indies, and ibid in our own iilands, or to the 
French, Spaniards, Danes and Dutch ; by the fame 
carried to other colonies in North-America, as to 
New-England, Nova-Scotia, Newfoundland, Caroli- 
na and Georgia ; by the lame carried to different parts 
of Europe, as Spain, Portugal and Italy. In all 
which places we receive either money, bills of ex- 
change, or commodities that fuit for remittance to 
Britain ; which, together with all the profits on the in- 
duftry of our merchants and mariners, ariiiug in thofe 
circuitous voyages, and the f t eights made by their 
ibips, centre finally in Britain, to difcharge the ba- 
lance, and pay for Britifh manufactures continually 
ufed in the province, or fold to foreigners by our traders. 

Q^ Have you heard of any difficulties lately laid on 
the Spanifh trade ? 

A. Yes, I have heard that it has been greatly ob- 
ftru&ed by fome new regulations, and by the Englifii 
men of war and cutters itationed all along the coafr in 
America. 

Q. Do you think it right that America mould be 
protected by this country, and pay no part of the ex- 
pence ? 

A, That is not the cafe. The Colonies railed, 
clothed and paid, during the lalt war, near 25,000 
men, and fpeut many millions. 

Q^ Were you not reimburfed by parliament I 

A. We were only reimburfed what, in your opini- 
on, we had advanced beyond our proportion, or beyond 



DR. FRANILIN, 2<)f 

what might reafonably be expecled from us ; and it 
was a very fmall part of what we fpent. Pennfylva- 
nia, in particular, di/burfed about 500,000 pound;, 
and the reimburfements, in the whole, did net exceed 
60,000 pounds. 

Q^ You have faid that you pay heavy taxes in Penn- 
fylvania; what do they amount to in the pound? 

A. The tax on all eltates, real and perfonal, is 
eighteen pence in the pound, fully rated ; and the tax 
on the profits of trades and pro fe (lions, with other 
taxes, do, I fuppofe, make full half a crown in the 
pound. 

Q^ Do you know any thing of the rate of exchange 
in Pennfylvania, and whether it is fallen lately ? 

A. It is commonly from 170 to 175. I have heard 
that it has fallen lately from 175 to 162 and a half, 
owing, I fuppofe, to their lefiening their orders for 
goods; and when their debts to this country are paid, 
I think the exchange will^probably be at par. 

Q^ Do not you think the people of America would 
fubmit to pay the (lamp duty, if it was moderated ? 

A. No, never, unlefs compelled by force of arms. 

Q^ Are not the taxes in Pennfylvania laid on un- 
equally, in order to burthen the Englilh trade, parti- 
cularly the tax on profeffions and buftnefs? 

A. It is not more burthenfome in proportion than 
the tax on lands. It is intended, and fuppofed to take 
an equal proportion of profits. 

Q^ Plow is the aflembly compofed ? Of what kinds 
of people are the members, landholders or traders? 

A. It is compofed of landholders, merchants and 
-artificers. 

Q^ Are not the majority landholders ? 

A. I believe they are. 

Q. Do not they, as much as pofllble, (hi ft the tax 
off from the land, to eafe that, and lay the burthen 
heavier en trade ? 

A. I have never underflood it fo. I never heard 
fuch a thing fuggefted. And indeed an attempt of 
that kind could anfwer no purpofe. The merchant or 
trader is always /killed, in figures, and ready with his- 
pen and ink. If unequal burthens are laid en hW 
B b 



ig8 



E X AM I N A TI ST F 



trade, lie puts an additional price on bis goods ; and 
the confumers, who are chiefly landholders, finally pay 
the greatefl part, if not the whole. 

Q^ What was the temper of America towards G. 
Eritain before the year 1763 ? 

A. The beir. in the world. They fubmitted wil- 
lingly to the government of the crown, and paid, in 
all their courts, obedience to acls of parliament. Nu- 
merous as the people are in the feveral old provinces, 
they coft you nothing in forts, citadels, garrifons or 
armies, to keep them in fubjeetion. They were go- 
verned by this country at the expence only of a little 
pen, ink and paper. They were led by a thread. They 
had not only a refpeel, but an affection, for Great- 
Britain, for its laws, its cuftoms and manners, and 
even a fondnefs for its fafhions, that greatly increafed 
the commerce. Natives cf Britain were always treat- 
ed with particular regaid ; to be an Old England -man, 
was, of itfelf, a character of fome reipeel:, and gave a 
kind of rank among us. 

Q^ And what is their temper now? 
A. O, very much altered. 

Q. Did you ever hear the authority of parliament 
to make laws for America queltioned till latel) ? 

A. The authority of parliament was allowed to be 
valid in all laws, except fuch as fhould lay internal 
taxes. It was never disputed in laying duties to re- 
gulate commerce. 

Q. In what proportion hath population increafed in 
America ? 

A. I think the inhabitants cf all the provinces to- 
gether, taken at a medium, double in about 25 years* 
But their demand for Britifti manufactures increafes 
much fader, as the coniumption is not merely in pro- 
portion to their numbers, but grows with the growing 
abilities of the fame numbers to pay for them. In 1723, 
the whole importation from Britain to Penniylvauia, 
w r asbut about 15,000 pounds (leilingj it is now near 
half a million. 

Q. In what light did the people of America life to 
, confider the parliament of Great-Britain ? 
A. They confidered the parliament as 
nil: and : i-' liberti* 



DR. FRANKLIN. 299 

and always fpoke of it with the utmoft refpect and ve- 
neration. Arbitrary minifters, they thought, might 
poffibly, at times, attempt to opprefs them ; but they 
relied on it, that the parliament, on application, would 
always give redrefs. They remembered, with grati- 
tude, a ftrong inftance of this, when a bill was brought 
into parliament, with a claufe to make royal inflruc- 
trons laws in thecobniesj which the houfe oi commons 
would not pais, and it was thrown out. 

CX^ And have they not ftill the fame refpect for par- 
liament ? 

A. No ; it is greatly lerfened. 

Q^ To what caufes is that owing ? 

A. To a concurrence of caufes; the reftraints late- 
ly laid on their trade, by which the bringing of 
foreign gold and filver into the colonies was prevented ; 
the prohibition of making paper money among them- 
felves ; and then demanding a new and heavy tax by 
ftamps ; taking away, at the fame time, trials by ju- 
ries, and refilling to receive and hear their humble pe- 
titions. 

Q^ Don't you think they would fubmit to the (lamp 
aft, if it was modified, the obnoxious parts taken out, 
and the duty reduced to fome particulars, of fmall mo- 
ment ? 

A. No ; they will never fubmit to it. 

(X What do you think is the reafon that the peo- 
ple of America increafe fafter than in England ? 

A. Becaufe they marry younger, and more gene- 
rally. 

Q. Why fo ? 

A. Becaufe any young couple that are indufrrious, 
may eafily obtain land of their own, on which they can 
raife a family. 

O. Are not the lower rank of people more at their 
eafe in America than in England ? 

A. They may be fo, if they are fober and diligent, 
as they are better paid ior their labour. 

CX^ What is your opinion of a future tax, impofed 
on the fame principle with that of the llamp act ; how 
would the Americans receive it? 

A. J ufl as they do this. They would not pay it. 



30O EXAMINATION OF 

Q^ Have you not heard of the refolutions of this 
boui'c, and of the houfe of lords, afferting the right of 
parliament relating to America, including a power to 
tax the people there ? 

A. Yes, I have heard of fuch refolutions* 

Q^ What will be the opinion of the Americans on 
thole refolutions ? 

A. They will think them unconftitutional, and uh- 
juft. 

CV Was it an opinion in America before 1763, that 
the parliament had no right to lay taxes and duties 
there ? 

A. I never heard any objection to the right of lay- 
ing duties to regulate commerce ; but a right to lay 
internal taxes was never fuppofed to be in parliament, 
as we are not represented there. 

Q^ On what do you found your opinion, that the 
people in America made any fuch diftinction ? 

A. I know that whenever the fubjeft has occurred 
in converfation where I have been prefent, it has ap- 
peared to be the opinion of every one, that we could- 
jiot be taxed in a parliament where we were not re-- 
prefentecL But the payment of duties laid by act of 
parliament, 39 regulations of commerce, was never dif- 
p u ted. * 

Q. But can you name any act of aiTembly, or pub- 
lic act of any of your governments, that made fuch 
di function ? 

A. I do not know that there was any ; I think 
there was never an occafion to make any fuch ad\ 5 till 
now that you hav« attempted to tax us; that has occa- 
sioned refolutions of afiembly, declaring the diftinction, 
in which I think every aiTembly on the continent, and 
every member in every aflembly, have been unani- 
mous. 

Q^ What then could occafion cenverfations on that 
fubjecl before that time r 

A. There was in 1754 a proportion made (I think 
it came from hence) that in cafe of a war, which was 
then apprehended, the governors of the colonies fhould 
meet, and order the levying of troops, building of 
forts, and taking every other neceffary meafure for 
the general defence; and fhould draw on the ueafury 



DR. FRAN-KLIN, 30I 

here for the fums expended, which were afterwards to 
be raifed'in the colonies by a general tax, to be laid 
on them by act of parliament. This occafioned a good 
deal of conversation* on the fubjedt, and the general 
opinion was, that the parliament neither would nor 
could lay any tax on us, till we were duly reprefented 
in parliament, becauie it was not jufr, nor agreeable to 
the nature of an Englifh conuitution. 

Q^ Don't you know there was a time in New- York, 
when it was under confideration to make an applica- 
tion to parliament to lay taxes on that colony, upon 
a deficiency anting from the afienibly's refofing or 
neglecting to raife the necefTary (applies for the fup- 
port of the civil government? 

A. I never heard of it« 

Q. There was fuch an application under confidera- 
tion in New-York ; and do you apprehend they could 
fuppole the right of parliament to lay a tax in Ame- 
rica was only local, and confined to the cafe of a defi- 
ciency in a particular colony, by a refufal of its aJTem- 
bly to raife the necefTary fupplies ? 

A, They could not fuppofe fuch a cafe, as that the 
affembly w 7 ouid not raife the neceiTary fupplies to fup- 
port its own government. An ailembly that would 
refufe it muft» want common fenfe, which cannot be 
fuppofed. I think there was never any fuch cafe at 
New-York, and that it mult be a mifreprefentation, or 
the facl mufr. be mifunderftcod. I know there have 
been fome attempts, by minifterial inftrucYions from 
hence, to oblige the affemblies to fettle permanent 
falaries on governors, which they wifely refuted to do ; 
but I believe no ailembly of New-York, or any other 
colony, ever refufed duly to fupport government by 
proper allowances, from time to time, to public offi- 
cers. 

Q^But in cafe a governor, acting by inftruction, 
Ihouid call on an aiTembly to raife the necefTary fup- 
plies, and the aifembly fhould refufe to do it, do you 
rot think it would 'then be for the good of the people 
..e colony, as well as neceiTary to government, that 
ild tax them ■ 

A. I do not tii. be neceiTary. If an 

hfu iifoly ' couid p.. z ib ^bfuid as to refuie ra> 

B b 2 



$OZ EXAMINATION OF 

fmg the fupplies requifite for the maintenance of go- 
vernment among them, they could not long remain in 
fuch a fituation, the diforders and confuuon occalioned 
by it mult foon bring them to reafon. 

Q^ If it fhould not, ought not the right to be in 
Great-Britian of applying a remedy ? 

A. A right only to be ufed in luch a cafe, I fhould 
3-iave no objection to, fuppofing it to be ufed merely 
for the good of the people of the colony. 

Q^ But who is to judge of that, Britain or the 
colony ? 

A. Thofe that feel can beft judge. 

Q^ You fay the colonies have always fubmitted to 
external taxes, and object to the right of parliament 
only in laying internal taxes j now can you mew that 
there is any kind of difference between the two taxes 
to the colony on which they may be laid ? 

A. I think the difference is very great. An ex- 
ternal tax is a duty laid on commodities imported ; 
that duty is added to the fir ft coft, and other charges 
on the commodity, and when it is offered to tale, makes 
a part of the price. If the people do not like it at 
that price, they refufe it ; they are not obliged to pay 
it. But an internal tax is forced from the people with- 
out their confent, if not laid by their own reprefenta- 
tives. The (lamp-act fays, we fhall have no commerce, 
make no exchange of property with each other, nei- 
ther purchafe nor grant, nor recover debts ; we fhall 
neither marry, nor make our wills, unlefs we pay fuch 
and fuch funis, and thus it is intended to extort our 
money from us, or ruin us by the confequences of re- 
fufing to pay it. 

Q^ But fuppofing the external tax or duty to be 
laid on the necelTaries of life imported into your colony, 
■will not that be the fame thing in its effects as an in- 
ternal tax? 

A. I do not know a fmgle article imported into the 
northern colonies, but what they can either do without, 
or make themfelves. 

Q^ Don't you think cloth from England abfolutely 
.neceflary to them ? 

A. No, by no means abfolutely necefiary ; with in- 
duftry and good management, they may very well fup- 
ply themfelves with all they want, 



DR. FRANKLIN. 303 

Q^Will it not take a long time to eftablifh that 
manufacture among them ? and mult they not in the 
mean while fafFer gieatly ? 

A, I think not. They have made a furprifing pre- 
grefs already. And lam of opinion, that before their 
old clothes are worn out, they will have new ones of 
their own making. 

Q^Can they poflibly find wool enough in North 
America ? 

A. They have taken fteps to increafe the woo!. 
They entered into general combinations to eat no more 
lamb, and very few lambs were killed lad year. This 
courfe perfifted in will foon make a prodigious difFer- 
ence in the quantity of wool. And the efiabliming of 
great manufactories, like thofe in the clothing towns 
here, is not necelTary, as it is where the bufinefs is to 
be carried on for the purpofes of trade. The people 
will all fpin, and work for themfelves, in their own 
houfes. 

Q^ Can there be wool and manufacture enough in 
one or two years ? 

A. In three years, I think, there may. 

Q^Does not the fever ity of the winter, in the North- 
ern Colonies, occaiion the wool to be of bad quality ? 

A. No ; the wool is very fine and good. 

Q. In the more Southern Colonies, as in Virginia; 
don't you know that the wool is coarfe, and only a 
kind of hair ? 

A. I don't know it. I never heard it. Yet I havebeen 
fometimes in Virginia. I cannot fay I ever took par- 
ticular notice of the wool there, but I believe it is 
good, though I cannot fpeak pofitively of it ; but Vir- 
ginia, and the colonies lotith of it, have lefs occafion 
for wool ; their winters are fhort, and not very fevere, 
and they can very well clothe the mielves with linen and 
cotton of their own railing for the reft of the year. 

Q. Are not the people, in the more northern colo- 
nies, obliged to fodder their fheep all the winter ? 

A. In ibme of the mod northern colonies they may 
be obliged to do it fome part of the winter. 

Q. Conficlering the resolutions of parliament, as to 
the right, do you think, if the ftamp-acl ,s repealed^ 
that the North Americans will be Satisfied J 



304 EXAMINATION OP 

A. I believe they will. 
Q. Why do you think fo ? 

A. 1 think the refolutions of right will give them 
very little concern, if they are never attempted to be 
carried into practice. The colonies will probably con- 
fider themfelves in the fame fituation, in that reipect, 
with Ireland; they koow you claim the fame right 
with regard to Ireland, but you never exercife iu And 
they may believe you never will exercife it in the Co- 
lonies, any more than in Ireland, unlefs on fome very 
extraordinary occafion. 

Q^ But who are to be the judges of that extraordi- 
nary occavion ? Is it not the parliament ? 

A. Though the parliament may judge of the occa- 
fion, the people will think it can never exercife fuch 
right, till repreientatives from the colonies are admitted 
into parliament, and that whenever the occafion ariies, 
repreientatives will be ordered. 

Q^ Did you never hear that Maryland, during the 
lalt war, had refuted to furniih a quota towards the 
common defence ? 

A, Maryland has been much mifreprefented in that 
matter. Maryland, to my knowledge, never refuiedto 
contribute, or grant aids to the crown. The afiem- 
blies every year, during the war, voted confiderable 
fums, and formed bills to raife them. The bills were, 
according to the conftitution of that province, lent up 
to the council, or upper houfe, for concurrence, that 
they might be prefented to the governor, in order to 
be enacted into laws. Unhappy difputes between the 
two houies ariiing, from the defeds of that conftitution 
principally, rendered all the bills but one or two abor- 
tive. The proprietary's council rejected them. It is 
true Maryland did not contribute its proportion, but it 
was, in my opinion, the fault of the government, not 
of the people. 

Q^ vVas it not talked of in the other provinces as a 

proper meaiure to apply to parliament to compel thern ? 

A. I have heard fuch diicourfe ; but as it was well 

known, that the people were not to blame, no fuch 

application was ever made, nor any ftep taken towards it* 

Q^ Was it not propofed at a public meeting I 

A. Not that I know of. 



BR. FRANKL1L 305 

Q. Do you remember the abolifhing of the paper 
currency in New England, by act of aiTembly? 

A. I do remember its being abolifhed, in the Maf- 
fachufett's Bay. 

Q^ Was not Lieutenant Governor Hutchinfon 
principally concerned in that transaction ? 

A. I have heard fo. 

Qv Was it not at that time a very unpopular law ? 

A. I believe it might, though I can fay little about 
it, as I lived at a diftance from that province. 

Q^ Was not the fcarcity of gold and filver an ar- 
gument ufed againfc abolifhing the paper? 

A. I fuppofe it was. 

Q^ What is the prefent opinion there of that law 1 
Is it as unpopular as it was at iirO: ? 

A. I think it is not. 

Q^ Have not inftru&ions from hence been forne- 
times font over to governors, highly oppreflive and un- 
political ? 

A. Yes. 

Q^ Have not fome governors difpenfed with them 
for that reafon ? 

A. Yes; I have heard fo. 

Q^ D.d the Americans ever difpute the cdntroling 
power of parliament to regulate the commerce ? 

A, No. 

Q^ Can any thing lefs than a military force carry 
the (lamp-act into execution ? 

A. I do not fee how a military force can be applied 
to that purpofe. 

Q^ Why may it not ? 

A. Suppofe a military force fent into America, they 
will find nobody in arms; what are they then to do? 
They cannot force a man to take [lamps who choofes to 
do without them. They will not find a rebellion ; they 
may indeed make one. 

Q. If the act is not repealed, what do you think 
will be the confequences ? 

A. A total lofs of the refpedV and affection the 
people cf America bear to this country, and of all the 
commerce that depends on that refpedt and affection. 

Q. How^ can the commerce t*g arfectc.I I 



306 EXAMINATION OF 

A. Yon will find, that if the act is not repealed, 
they will take very little of your manufactures in a- 
fhort time., 

Q. Is it in their power to do without them ? 

A. I think they may very well do without them. 

Q^ Is it their in te reft not to take them ? 

A. The goods they take from Britain are either ne- 
ceffaries, mere conveniences, or fuperfluities. The 
firft, as cloth, &c. with a little induftry they can make 
at home ; the fecond they can do without, till they are 
able to provide them among theiufelves; and the laft, 
which are much the greateft part, they will ftrike off; 
immediately. They are mere articles of famion, pur- 
chafed and confumed, becaufe the fashion in a reflect- 
ed country, but will now be detefted and rejected. 

The lave already ftruck off, by general agree- 

ment, the ufe of ! I fafliionable in mournings, 

and .many thouiand pounds worth are fent back as.un- - 
faleable. 

CX_ Is it their interefl to make cloth at home ? 

A. I think they may at prefent get it cheaper from 
Britain, I mean of the fame finenefs and neatnefs of: 
workmanlhip ; but when one contMers ether circum- 
ftances, the reftraints on their trade, and the difficul- 
ty of making remittances, it is their intereft to make 
every thing. 

Q^ Suppofe an act of internal regulations, connected 
with a tax, hovv would they, receive it ? 

A. I think it would be objected to. 

Q^ Then no regulation with a tax would be I 
mitted to ? 

A. Their opinion is, that when aids to the Crown 
are wanted, they are to be afked of the feveral a.. 
blies, according to the old eftablifhed ufage, who*will 
as they always have done, grant them freely. A d 
that their money ought not to be given away without 
their confent, by perfons at a diftance, unacquainted 
with their circumftances and abilities. The granting 
aids to the Crown, is the only means they have of re- 
commending themfelves to their fovereign, and they 
think it extremely hard and unjuft, that a body men, 
in which they have no reprefentatives, fhould make a 
merit to itfelf of giving and granting what is not 



DR. F R A X K X I X. 2*1° 

own, D$t theirs, and deprive them of a right they ef- 
teem of the utmoft value and importance, as it is the 
fecurity of all their other rights. 

Q^ But is net the pod-office, which they have long 
received, a tax as well as a regulation ? 

A. No; the money paid for the poftage of a letter 
is not of the nature of a tax ; it is merely a quantum 
meruit for a fervice done; no perfbn is compellable to 
pay the money, if he does not chufeto receive the fer- 
vice. A man may dill, as before the act, fend his let- 
ter by afervantj afpecial mefTenger, or a friend, if he 
thinks it cheaper and fafer. 

Q^ But do they not confider the regulations of the 
poit -office, by the acl of laft year, as a tax ? 

A. By the regulations of laft year the rate of pott- 
age was generally abated near thirty percent, through 
all America ; they certainly cannot confider fuch abate- 
ment as a tax. 

Q^ If an excife was laid by parliament which they 
jnight like wife avoid paying, -by not confirming the 
articles excifed, would they then not object to it ? 

A. They would certainly object to it, as an excife 
is unconnected with any fervice done, and is merely 
an aid which they think ought to be aiked of them, 
and granted by then*, if they are to pay it, and can be 
granted for them by no others whatfoever, whom they 
have not impowered for that purpoie. 

Q^ You fay they do not object to the right of par- 
liament inlaying duties on goods to be paid on their 
importation; now, Is there any kind of difference be- 
tween a duty on the importation of goods, and an ex- 
cife on their confumption ? 

A. Yes ; a very material one ; an excife, for the 
reaions I have juft mentioned, they think you can have 
no right to lay within their country. But the fea is 
yours; you maintain, by your fleets, the lately of na- 
vigation in it ; and keep it clear of pirates ; you may 
have therefore a natural and equitable right to fome 
toll or duty on merchandizes carried through that part 
of your dominions, towards defraying the expence 
are at in (hips to maintain the fafely of thai car- 
riage. 



308 EXAMINATION 0? 

Q^ Does this reafoning hold in the cafe of a duty 
laid on the produce of their lands exported ? and would 
they not then object to fuch a duty ? 

A. If it tended to make the produce fo much dear- 
er abroad as to lefien the demand for it, to be fure 
they would object to fuch a duty ; not to your right 
of laying it, but they would complain of it as a burthen, 
and petition you to lighten it. 

Q. Is not the duty paid on the tobacco exported a 
duty of that kind? 

A. That, I think, is only on tobacco carried coaft- 
wife from one colony to another, and appropriated as a 
fund for fupportiug the college at WilliamfDurgb, in 
Virginia. 

Q^ Have not the aiTemblies in the Weft-Indies the 
fame natural rights with thole in North America? 
A. Undoubtedly. 

Q^ And is there not a tax laid there on their fug*ars 
exported ? 

A. 1 am not much acquainted with the Weft-In- 
dies, but the duty of four and a half per cent on fu- 
gars exported, was, I believe, granted by their own 
aiTemblies. 

Q^ How much is the poll-tax in your province laid 
on unmarried men ? 

A. It is, I think, fifteen millings, to be paid by 
every fmgle freeman, upwards of twenty-one years 
old. 

Q^ What is the annual amount of all the taxes in 
Fenniylvania ? 

A. I fuppofe about 20,000 pounds fisriing. 
Q^ Suppofing the ftamp-ae\ continued, and enforced, 
do you imagine that ill humour will induce the Ame- 
ricans to give as much iov worfe manufactures, of their 
own, and ufe them, preferably to better of ours? 

A. Yes, I think fo. People will pay as freely to 
gratify one paflion as another, their refentment as their 
pride. 

Q^ Would the people at BoRon difcontinue their 
trade ? 

A. The merchants are a very fmall number com- 
pared with the body of the people, ar.d mull difcontinue 
their trade, if nobody will buy their goods. 



BR. FRANKLIN, 3<D() 

Q^ What are the body of the people in the colo- 
nies? 

A. They are farmers, huibandmen or planters, 

Q^ Would they fuffer the produce of their lands to 
rot ? 

A. No; but they would not raife fo much. They 
would manufacture more, and plough lefs. 

<?. Would they live without the adminiflration of 
juftice in civil matters, and furFer all the inconvenien- 
cies of fuch a lituation for any confiderable time, ra- 
ther than take the (lamps, fuppofing the (lamps were 
protected by a fufficient force, where every one might 
have them ? 

A. I think the fuppofition impracticable, that the 
(lamps (hould be fo protected as that every one might 
have them. The act requires fub-diftributors to be 
appointed in every county town, didrict and village, 
and they would be neceflary. But the principal dii- 
tributors, who were to have had a confiderable profit: 
on the whole, have not thought it worth while to con- 
tinue in the office, and I think it impoflible to find 
fub-diftributors fit to be trufled, who, for the trifling 
profit that mufl come to their (hare, would incur the 
odium, and run the hazard that would attend it ; and 
if they could be found, I think it impracticable to 
protect the (lamps in fo many dillant and remote 
places. 

§. But in places where they could be protected, 
would not the people ufe them rather than remain in 
fuch a lituation, unable to obtain any right, or reco- 
ver, by law, any debt ? 

A, It is hard to fay what they would do. I can 
only judge what other people will think, and how they 
will act, by what I feel within myfelf. I have a great; 
many debts due to me in America, and I had rather, 
they (hould remain unrecoverable by any law, thari 
fubmit to the {lamp-act. They will be debts of ho- 
nour. It is my opinion the people will either continue 
in that fituation, or find fome way to extricate them- 
felves, perhaps by generally agreeing to proceed in the 
courts without ilamps. 

Cc 



3IO EXAMINATION OF 

@. What do you think a fufficient military force to 
protect the diftribution of the (lamps in every part of 
America ? 

A. A very great force ; I can't fay what, if the 
difpcfuion of America is for a general refiftance. 

ft What is the number of men in America able to 
bear arms, or of disciplined militia ? 

A* There are, I fuppofe, at leafl — « — 
w ._ est ion objected to. He withdrew. Called in again.'] 

<§. Is the American (lamp-act an equal tax on that 
country ? 

A. I think not. 

$. Whyfo? 

A. The greatefl part of the money mud arife from 
law fuits for the recovery of debts, and be paid by the 
lower fort of people* who were too poor eafily to pay 
their debts. It is therefore a heavy tax on the poor, 
and a tax upon them -for being poor. 

§.. But will not this increafe of expence be a means 
of leffening the number of law fuits ? 

A. I think not ; for as the cofts all fall upon the 
debtor, and are to be paid by him, they would be no 
difcouragement to the creditor to bring his action. 

<2>. Would it not have the effect of exceffive ufury ? 

A. Yes, as an oppreflion of the debtor. 

%. How many (hips are there laden annually in 
North-America with flax-feed for Ireland? 

A. I cannot fpeak to the number of (hips, but I 
know that in 1752, 10,000 hogfheads of flax-feed, 
each containing 7 bufheis, were exported from Phila- 
delphia to Ireland. I fuppofe the quantity is greatly 
itrcreafed (ince that time ; and it is underflood that the 
exportation from New-York is equal to that from 
Philadelphia. 

§>. What becomes of the flax that grows with th^t 
flax-feed ? 

A. They manufacture fome intocoarfe, and fome 
into a middling kind of linen. 

^. Are there any flitting mills in America? 

A. I think there are, but I believe only one at 
prefent employed. I fuppofe they will all be fet to 
work, if the interruption of the trade continues.. 



X> R. FRANKLIN. 3II 

i?. Are there any fulling mills there 1 

A. A great many. 

§>. Did you never hear that a great quantity of 
ftockings were contracted for the army during the war, 
and manufactured in Philadelphia ? 

A. I have heard' fo. 

g>. If the (lamp act fliould be repealed, would not 
the Americans think they could oblige the parliament 
to repeal every external tax law now in force ? 

A. It is hard to anlwer queftions of what people at 
fuch a diftance will think. 

§?. But what do you imagine they will think were 
die motives of repealing the ad? 

A. I fuppoie they will think that it was repealed 
irom a convidtion of its inexpediency ; and they will 
rely upon it, that while the fame inexpediency fubfift£, 
y hi will never attempt to make fuch another. 

^5 What do you mean by its inexpediency ? 

H. I mean its inexpediency on ieveral accounts; 
the power and inability of thole who were to pay the 
tax ; the general difcontent it has occafiened 5 and 
the impracticability of enforcing it. 

§>, If the act mould be repealed, and the legiflature 
mould {hew its refentment to the oppoiers of the ftamp- 
aft, would the colonies acquiefce in the authority ctf 
the Iegiilature ? What is your opinion they would 
do? 

A. I don't doubt at all, that if the legiflature repeal 
the ftamp-aCt, the colonies will acquiefce in the autho- 
rity. 

9i But if the Iegiilature fhould think fit to afce*- 
tain its right to lay taxes, by any act laying a fmall 
tax, contrary to their opinion, would they fubmit to 
pay the tax ? 

A. The proceedings of the people in America have 
been eonndered too much together. The proceedings 
of the aiYemblies have been very different from thofe 
of the mobs, and mould be diflinguifhed, as having no 
connection with each other. — The afiemblies have 
only peaceably reiblved what they take to be their 
rights ; they have taken no meafures for oppofition by 
fence, they have not built a fort, raifed a man, or pro- 
vided a grain of ammunition, in order to fuch cppcil- 



312 EXAMINATION OF 

tion. — The ringleaders of riots they think ought to 
be punilhed ; they would puwifh them themfelves, 
if they could. Every ibber ienfible man would 
wifh to fee rioters punifhed, as otherwife peaceable 
people have no fecurity of perfon or eftate. But as 
to any internal tax, how fmall foever, laid by the legif- 
lature here on the people there, while they have no re- 
presentatives in this legiflature, I think it will never 
be fubmitted to— They will oppofe it to the laft — 
They do not coniider it as at all neceffary for you to 
raife money on them by your taxes, becaufe they are, 
afcd always have been, ready to raife money by taxes 
among themfelves, and to grant large fums, equal to 
their abilities, upon requifition from the Crown. — 
They have not only granted equal to their abilities, 
but, during all the laft war, they granted far beyond 
their abilities, and beyond their proportion with this 
country, ycu yourlelves being judges, to the amount 
of many hundred thoufand pounds, and this they did 
freely and readily, only on a foitcf pscinife from the 
fecrerary uf irate, that it ihouid fee recommended to 
parliament to make them compenfation. It was ae- 
coidingly recommended to paiiiament, in the mod 
honourable manner, for therm America has been 
greatly mifreprefented and abided here ? in papers, and 
prrnph!ets, and fpeeches, as ungrateful, and unreafon- 
able, and unjuft, in having put this nation to immenfe 
expence for their defence, and refining to bear any 
part of that expence. 1 "he colonies vaifed, paid 
and clothed, near 25,000 men during the laft war, a 
number equal to thofe lent from Britain, and far be- 
yond their proportion ; they went deeply into debt in 
doing this, and all their taxed eftates are mortgaged, 
for many years to come, for difcharging that debt. 
Government here was at that time very ienfible of 
this. The colonies were recommended to parliament. 
Every year the King fent down to the houie a writ- 
ten meiTage to this purpofe, That his Majefty, being 
highly fenfible of the zeal and vigour with which his 
faithful iubjecls in North- America had exerted them- 
itlvcs in defence of his Maje fly's juft rights and pcf- 
iciT:ons, recommended it to the houfe to take thefam| 
into coniideration, and enable him to give thera a pro- 



DR. F R A N K L I N. 313 

per compenfation. You will find thofe meffages 0:1 
your own journals every year of the war to the very 
Uft, and you did accordingly give 200,000 pounds an- 
nually to the Crown, to be diftributed in fuch com- 
penfation to the colonies. This is the ftrongeit of all 
proofs that the colonies, far from being unwilling to 
bear a (hare of the burthen, did exceed their propor- 
tion ; for if they had done lefs, or had only equalled 
their proportion, there would have been no room or 
reafon for compenfation. — Indeed the fums reimburfed 
them, were by no means adequate to the expence they 
incurred beyond their proportion ; but they never 
murmured at that ; they elleemed their Sovereign's 
approbation of their zeal and fidelity, and the appro- 
bation of this houie, far beyond any other kind of 
compenfation ; therefore there was no occafion for this 
act, to force money from a willing people ; they had 
not refufed giving money for the purpofes of the act ; 
no requifition had been made ; they were always wil- 
ling and ready to do what could reafonably be ex- 
pected from them, and in this light they wilh to be 
coniidered. 

@. But fuppofe Great-Britain fhould be engaged in 
a war in Europe, would North America contribute to 
the fupport of it ? 

A. I do think they would, as far as their circum- 
fhnces would permit. They connder themfelves as a 
part of the Britifh empire, and as having one common 
intereft with it ; they may be looked on here as fo- 
reigners, but they do not confider themfelves as fuch. 
They are zealous for the honour and prcfoerity of this 
nation, and, while they are well ufed, will always be 
ready to fupport it, as far as their little power goes. — 
In 1739 they were called upon to affift in the expedi- 
tion againft Carthagena, and they fent 3000 men to 
join your army. It is true Carthagena is in America, 
but as remote from the northern colonies, as if it had 
been in Europe- They make no -diftinction of wars, 
as to their duty of affifHng in them. I know the lafl 
war is commonly fpoke of here as entered into for the, 
defence, or for the fake of the people of America. I 
think it is quite mifunderftood. It began about the 
~s between Canada and Nova-Scotia, about terri- 
C c 2 



314 EXAMINATION 0F 

tories to which the Crown indeed laid claim, but were 
not claimed by any Britifh colony ; none of the lands 
had been granted to any colonift ; we had therefore 
no particular concern or intereft in that difpute. As 
to the Ohio, the conteft there began about your right 
of trading in the Indian country, a right you had by 
the treaty of Utrecht, which the French infringed ; 
they feized the traders and their goods, which were 
your manufactures ; they took a fort which a compa- 
ny of your merchants, and their factors and corres- 
pondents, had erected there, to fecure that trade. — 
Braddock was lent with an army to re-take that fort 
(which was looked on here as another incroachment 
on the king's territory) and to protect your trade. It 
was not till after his defeat that the colonies were at- 
tacked. They were before in perfect peace with both 
French and Indians ; the troops were not therefore 
lent for their defence. The trade with the Indians 
though carried on in America, is not an American in— 
tereft. The people of America are chiefly farmers and 
planters ; fcarce any thing that they raiie or produce 
is an article of commerce with the Indians. The In- 
dian trade is a Britifh intereft; it is carried on with 
Britifh manufactures, for the profit of Britifh merchants 
and manufacturers ; therefore the war, as it com- 
menced for the defence of territories of the Grown, 
the property of no American, and for the defence of 
a trade purely Britifh, was really a Britifh war — and 
yet the people of America made no fcruple of contri- 
buting their utmoft towards carrying it on, and bring- 
ing it to a happy conclufion. 

Q^ Do you think then that the taking poffeflion of 
the king's territorial rights, and ftrengtheni ng the 
frontiers, is not an American intereft ? 

A. Not particularly, but conjointly a Britifh and an 
American interefte 

•%. You will not deny that the preceding war, the 
war with Spain, was entered into for the fake of Ame- 
rica; was it not cccafioned by captures made in the 
American leas ? 

sL Yes ; captures of Chips carrying on the Britifh 
trade there, with Britifh manufactures. 

$• V> T as not the late war with the Indians, fmce 
the peace with France, a war for America only I 



DR. FRA N KLI X T . 3 1 5 

y^. Yes ; it was more particularly for America than 
the former, but it was rather a confequencc or remains 
of the former war, the Indians not having* been tho- 
roughly paciiied, and the Americans bore by much the 
greateft fhare of the expense* It was put an end to 
by the army under General Bouquet; there were not 
above 300 regulars in that army, and above loco 
Pennfylvamans. 

§?. Is it not necefiary to fend troops to America, 
to defend the Americans againlt the Indians ? 

A. No, by no means; it never was neceflary. They 
defended themfelves when they were but an handful, 
and the Indians much more numerous. They conti- 
nually gained ground, and have driven the Indians 
over the mountains, without any troops fent to their 
affiltance from this country. And can it be thought 
neceflary now to fend troops for their defence from 
thofe diminiihed Indian tribes, when the colonies are 
become lb populous, and i"o irrong ? There is not the 
lead cccafion for it ; they are very able to defend 
themfelves. 

^. Do you fay there were no more than 300 regu- 
lar troops employed in the late Indian war ? 

A. Not on the Ohio, or the frontiers of Pennfylva- 
nia, which was the chief part of the war that affecled 
the colonies. There were garrifons at Niagara, Fort 
Detroit, and thofe remote potts kept for the fake of 
your trade ; I did not reckon them, but I believe that 
on the whole the number of Americans, or provincial 
troops, employed in the war, was greater than that of 
the regulars. I am not certain, but I think fo. 

<?. f)o you think the aflemblies ha\e a right to 
levy money on the fubject there, to grant to the 
Crown . ? 

A, I certainly think fo ; they have always done it. 

§?. Are they acquainted with the declaration or 
rights? anddo they know that, by that ftatute, money 
is not to be railed on the fubjecl but by conient of 
parliament ? 

A% They are very well acquainted with it. 

§. Kow then can they think they have a right to 
levy money for the Grown, or for any o.her than bcal 
purpofcs I 



J 



l6 EXAMINATION, 0.1' 



A. They underftand that claufe to relate to fubjeCts 
only within the realm ; that no money can be levied 
on them for the Crown, but by confent of parliament. 
The colonies are not fuppofed to be within the realm ; 
they have affemblies of their own ; which are their 
parliaments, and they are in that refpecl in the fame 
fkuation with Ireland. When money is to be railed 
for the Crown upon the fubjecl in Ireland, or in the 
colonies, the confent is given in the parliament of Ire- 
land, or in the affemblies of the colonies. They think 
the parliament of Great-Britain cannot properly give 
that confent till it has repreientatives from America; 
for the petition of right exprefsly fays, it is to be by 
common content in parliament, and the people of A- 
rnerica have no reprefentatives in parliament, to make 
a part of that common confent. 

Q. If the ftamp-acl fhould be repealed, and an set 
fhould pafs, ordering the affemblies of the colonies 
to indemnify the fufferers by the riots, would they o- 
bey it ? 

Am That is a queflion I cannot anfwer. 

Q. Suppofe the king fhould require the colonies to 
grant a revenue, and the parliament fhould be againft 
their doing it, do they think they can grant a revenue 
to the king, without the confent of the parliament of 
Great Britain ? 

Am Tfeat is a deep queftion. — As to my own opi- 
nion, I fhould think myfelf at liberty to do it, and 
fhould do it, if I liked the occafioD. 

O. When money has been raited in the colonies 
upon requifitions, has it not been granted to the king ? 

A. Yes, always ; but the requifitions have gene- 
rally been forfome fervice expreffed, as to raiie, clothe. 
and pay troops, and not for money only. 

Q. If the ad fhould pafs, requiring the American 
affemblies to make compenfation to the fufferers, and 
they fhould difobey it, and then the parliament fhould, 
by another ad, lay an internal tax, would they then 
obey it ? 

Am The people will pay no internal tax ; and I tl ink 
an a 61 to oblige the affemblies to make compenfation 
is nnneceffary, for I &m of opinion, that as foon as the 
prefent heats are abated, they will take the matter in- 



Di, FRANKLIN/ 317 

to confederation, and, if it is right to be done, they 
will do it of themfelves. 

Q^ Do not letters often corne into the poft-offices 
in America, directed to fome inland town where no 
port goes ? 

A. Yes. 

Q. Can any private perfon take up thofe letters, and 
^arry them as directed I 

A. Yes ; any friend of the perfon may do it, pay- 
ing the portage that has occurred. 

Q. But muft he not pay an additional portage for 
the diflance to fuch inland town ? 

A. No. 

*^L ^ an ^ ie port-mafler anfwer delivering the letter, 
with nit being paid fuch additional portage ? 

A* Certainly he can demand nothing, where he 
dees no fervice. 

QJ Suppoie a perfon, being far from home, finds a 
letter in a port-office directed to him, and he lives in 
a place to which the port generally goe?, and the letter 
is directed to that place, will the port-marter deliver 
hibt the letter, without his paying the portage receiv- 
able at the place to which the letter is directed? 

At Yes ; the office cannot demand portage for a 
letter that it does not carry, or farther than it does 
carry it. 

Q^ Are not ferrymen in America obliged, by aft 
of parliament, to carry over the ports without pay ? 

A. Yes. 

O^ Js not this a tax on the ferrymen ? 

A. They do not confider it as fuch, as they have 
an advantage from perfon? travelling witli the port. 

Q, If the (lamp-aft mould be repealed, and the crown 
fhoiild make a requilition to the colonies for a fum of 
money, would they grant it ? 

A, I believe they would. 

Q^ Why do you think fo ? 

A. I can fpeak for the colony 1 live in; I had it in 
inrtruftion from the aflembly to allure the minirtry, 
that as they always had done, fo they fhoulcl always 
think it their duty to grant fuch aids to the Crown as 
were fuitable to their circumftances and abilities, when- 
called upon for the purpofe, in the ufual confti- 



3I& EXAMINATION OF 

tutional manner ; and I had the honour of communi- 
cating this inftru&ion to that honourable gentleman 
then minifter. 

Q^ Would they do this for a Britilh concern ; as 
fuppofe a war in fome part of Europe, that did not af- 
fect them ? 

'A. Yes, for any thing that concerned the general 
intereft. They confider themfelves as a part of the 
whole, 

Q^ What is the ufual confHtutional manner of call- 
ing on the colonies for aids ? 

A. A letter to the fecretary of ftate» 

^L ^ s tn * s a ^ y ou mean > a letter from the fecretary 
of ftate ? 

A. I mean the ufual way of requisition, in a circu- 
lar letter from the fecretary of date, by his Majefly's 
command, reciting the cccaiion, and recommending it 
to tjjfc colonies -.o grant fuch aids as became their loy- 
altyj and were iuitabje to their abilities, 

O^ Did tbe fecretary of fiate ever write for money 
for the Grown ? 

A. The requifnions have been to raife, clothe and 
pay men, which cannot be done without money. 

Q^ Wuu Id they grant money alone, if calied on I 

ji* In my opinion they would, money as well as 
men, when they have money, or can make it. 

O. If the parliament fhould repeal the flamp-acl, 
will the affembly of Pennfylvania relcind their refoiu- 
tions I 

A. I think not. 

Q^ Before there was any thought of the (tamp-act, 
did they wiuh for a repreientation in parliament ? 

A. No. 

O. Don't you know that there is, in the Pennfyl- 
vania charter, an exprefs refervation of the right of 
parliament to lay taxes there ? 

A. I know there is a claufe in the charter, by which 
the king grants that he will levy no taxes on the inha- 
bitants, unlefs it be with the content qf the affembly, 
or by act of parliament. 

Q^ How then could the affembly of Pennfylvania 
affert, that laying a tax on them by the (ramp-ad 
an infringement of tbeh* rights i 



DR. FRANKLIN, 319 

Am The)- underftand it thus ; by the fame charter, 
and othcrwife, they are in titled to all the privileges 
and liberties of Englifhmen ; they find in the great 
charters, and the petition and declaration of rights, 
that one of the privileges of Englifb fubjects is, that 
they are not to be taxed but by their common confent ; 
they have therefore relied upon it, from the firft fettle- 
ment of the province, thatthe parliament never would, 
nor could, by colour of that claufe in the charter, af- 
fume a right of taxing them, till it had qualified itfelf 
to exercife fuch right, by admitting representatives 
from the people to be taxed, who ought to make a part 
of that common confent. 

Q^ Are there any words in the charter that juftify 
that conftrudlion ? 

A. The common rights of Englifhmen, as declared 
by Magna Charta, and the petition of right, all juf- 
tify it. 

Q^ Does the diftinction -between internal and exter- 
nal taxes exift in the words of the charter? 

A. No, I believe not. 

Q^ Then may they not, by the fame interpretati- 
on, object to the parliament's right of external tax- 
ation ? 

A. They never have hitherto. Many arguments 
have been lately ufed here to (hew them that there is 
no difference, and that if you have no right to tax them 
internally, you have none to tax them externally, or 
make any other law to bind them. At prefent they 
go not reafon fo, but in time they may poffibly be con- 
vinced bythefe arguments. 

Q^ Do not the refolutions of the Pennfylvania af- 
fembly fay all taxes ? 

Am If they do, they mean only internal taxes ; the 
fame words have not always the fame meaning here 
and in the colonies. By taxes they mean internal 
taxes ; by duties they mean cuftoms ; thefe arc their 
ideas of the language. 

Q^ Have you not feen the refolutions of the Maf* 
fachufetts Bay affembly I 

Am I have. 

QU Do they not fay, that neither external nor hi- 
al taxes can be laid on them by parliament ? 



320 EXAMINATION OF 

A. I don't know that they do ; I believe not. 

Q^ If the fame colony fhould fay neither tax nor 
imp)ikion could be laid, does not that province hold 
the power of parliament can hold neither ? 

A. I fuppofe that by the word impofition, they do 
not intend to exprefs duties to be laid on goods im- 
ported, as regulations of commerce. 

Ql What can the colonies mean then by impofition 
asdiftinct from taxes? 

A* They may mean many things, as imprefling of 
men, or of carriages, quartering troops on private 
houies, and the like ; there may be great impotitions, 
that are not properly taxes. 

Q. Is not the poit-ofiice rate an internal tax laid by 
act of parliament? 

A. I have anfwered that. 

Q. Are all parts of the colonies equally able to pay 
taxes ? 

A. No, certainly ; the frontier parts, which have 
been ravaged by the enemy, are greatly difabled by 
that means, and therefore, in fuch cafes, are ufually 
•favoured in our tax laws* 

O. Can we, at this dilhnce, be competent judges of 
what favours are necelTary ? 

A, The parliament have fuppofed it, by claiming a 
right to make tax laws for America ; I think it im- 
poflibie. 

O. Would the repeal of the (tamp-acl be any dif- 
conragement of your manufactures \ Will the people 
fhat have begun to manufacture decline it? 

A. Yes, I think they will ; efpecially if, at the fame 
time, the trade is opened again, fo that remittances 
can be eafily made. I have known feveral inftances 
that make it probable. In the war before laft, tobac- 
co being low, and making little remittance, the peo- 
ple of Virginia went generally into family manufac- 
tures. Afterwards, when tobacco bore a better price, 
they returned to the ufe of British manufactures. So 
fulling mills were very much diluted in the laft war in 
Pennfylvania, becaufe bills were then plenty, and re- 
mittances could eafily be made to Britain for Euglifh 
cloth and other goods. 

Q. If the flamp-acl fhoulJ be repealed, would it 



DR. FRANKLIN. '321 

induce the affemblies of America to acknowledge the 
rights of parliament to tax them, and would they erafe 
their refolutions ? 

A, No, never. 

Q. Is there no means of obliging them to erafe 
thofe refolutions ? 

A. None that I know of; they will never do it un- 
lefs compelled by force of arms. 

Q. Is there a power on earth that can force them to 
erafe them ? 

A. No power, how great foever, can force men to 
change their opinions. 

Q. Do they conliderthe poll-office as a tax, or as a 
regulation ? 

A. Not as a tax, but as a regulation and conveni- 
ence ; every affembly encouraged it, and fupported it 
in its infancy, by grants of money, which they would 
not otherwife have done; and the people have always 
paid the pottage. 

Q. When did you receive the inftructions you men- 
tioned ? 

A. I brought them with me, when I came to Eng- 
land, about 15 months fince. 

Q. When did you communicate that inflruction to 
the minifler ? 

A. Soon after my arrival, while the (lamping of 
America was under confideration, and before the bill 
was brought in. 

Q^ Would it be mofl for the intereft of Great-Bri- 
tain, to employ the hands of Virginia in tobacco, or 
in manufactures ? 

A, In tobacco to be fure. 

Q^ W r hat ufed to be the pride of the Americans? 

A. To indulge in the fafhions and manufactures of 
Great Britain. 

Q. What is now their pride ? 

A. To wear their old clothes over again, till they 
can make new ones. 

Withdrew?* 

Dd 



Subscribers* Names. 



XXDAMS ELIZA 

A (hb ridge William 
Auftin Thomas 
Anderfon George K» 
Anderfon Andrew 
Alexander John 
Axe Frederick 
Afhbridge William 
Anfbey George 
Abbott William H. 
Alfton Ofburn 
B 
Bell Thomas 
Benfell Engle 
Bringhurft Robert 
Beck John 
Beck Daniel 
Bailey Barzillai 
Barrington Thomas 
Biipham Jofeph 
Brown Nathaniel 
Byrne Terence 
Briggs Jofeph 
Baldwin John 
Burkhart Samuel 
Bomb^rger William, jnu. 
Bare, .y George 
Brown William 
Bryant John Y. 
Byrne John 
Barnes John 



Bonnaud Francois 

Boyle Phillip 

Brew ton Robert 

Bowen James 

Beatty Samuel 

Baxter Elizabeth 

Buchanan Alexander 

Brolly Thomas 

Bohlen John 

Blair William 

Brown Frederick, Copper- 
Plate printer, 184 north 
Second Street. 

Batchelor William 

Bird Jofeph 

Burk David 

Brown John 

Brooks James 

Browne Peter 

Butt Lewis 

Bickley George 

Blake George E. 

Bradley Charles 

Barron John 

Buzby John 

Bifhop John 

Biggs Thomas 

Blair William 

Blain William 

Burns Arthur 

BurEngton Thomas 

Baker Henry C. 

Bell Jeremiah 



Subscribers* Names. 



-"Bradford William , 

Barry Jonathan 
C 

Cochran George 

Culin John 

Carpenter John 

Chrillie David 

dimming George 

Carteret Jofeph W. 

Connelly Patrick 

Clot worthy .John 

Cord tier John 

Colladay Abraham 

Coryell Jofeph 

Carr Robert 

Carmalt Thomas S. 

Cochran George 

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Cotter:)! Thomas 

Cummings George 

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Comly Henry 

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Cooper Samuel 

Courfey Emily 

Conway Mathias 
D 

Davis William 

Din gee Daniel 

Dillingham S. 

Davidfon N. 

Dupleffis Le Barbier Peter 

De Noailles Guy 

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Davis John 

Diehl Nicholas, jun. 

Duval Mrs. 

Dennett Sarah 
^Dupleffis P. jun. 

Darrach James 

Dewees George W. 

Dugan Thomas 



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Dubre Eleanora 
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Davmon Jofeph 
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Daily Peter 
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Dungan Levi 
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Evans Robert, jun. 
Evans Oliver 
Engle Charles 
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Evans John B. 
Everhart David 
Evans Jacob 
Elliott William 
Ewing John 
Eftill Briton 
Edwards Enoch 
Eaftburn Mary 
Elton George 

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Forten James 
French Abraham 
Forepaugh Frederick 
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Huoley D. Henry 
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Ha r be Ton Benjamin 
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Harper William 
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Lewis Samuel] 
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BOOKS 



Lately Publifhed, and for faleby WILLIAM 
W. WOODWARD, at the fign of Frank, 
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delphia, 



JL HE Works of the late Rev. Dr. John Wi- 
the rfpoon, formerly Prefident of the College 
at Princeton, in 3 large and handfome oftavo 
volumes, price 6 dols. 75 cents — very few co- 
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Brown's Dictionary of the Holy Bible, in two 
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Burkitt's Commentary on the New TeftaS 
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The Speaker ; o.r, Mifcellaneous Pieces, Se- 
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BOOKS, 

from the fixth European Edition, with an 
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Ambrofe and Eleanor, or the Adventures of 
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— tranflated from the French. — Providence 
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Bloflbms of Morality — intended for the 
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— by the Editor of the Looking Glafs for the 
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The Cavern of Death, a Moral Tale, price 
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The Mountain Cottager, or Wonder upon 
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" Ye Vifions that before me roll, 

" That Freeze my blood, that lhake my foul., 

u Are ye the phantoms of a dream ?" 

H. M. WILLIAM'S. 



LIKEWISE FOR SALE, 

THE Children of the Abbey— a Tale— in 
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Siamefe Tales, 62| cents. 

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W. W. WOODWARD has in the Prefs an 
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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016 211 387 2 • 



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